Ethics Reflective Journal

Reflect on the unit topic. Type the following in your Reflective Journal/Blog.
1. Share what you had expected to learn about the topic before the class.
2. What you actually learned from the unit.
3. How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.
4. Your personal feelings about the material covered.
When finished with your entry, place one sentence in this assignment stating your Reflective Journal/Blog entry has been made.

I expected to cover controversial, ethical issues we face in the health care world today and how hospitals deal with them.  In class, we had a panel that discussed a few cases, such as surrogacy, cultural differences, blood transfusions, possibly unnecessary procedures, and eugenics.  It was amazing to me the different opinions about each and how there really is no right answer.  When we were discussing eugenics, a guy on the panel said that the ethics committees decide on policy that they will allow for EVERYONE, not just the one case.  With that, there is a big discussion about, "where do we draw the line?" If this one couple wants the ensure their child won't have Huntington's Disease, then what about the couple that doesn't want their child to have Autism, or the couple that wants their child to be a boy?  I was also torn about the cultural case since there is a fine line between some cultural practices and abuse, even, possibly, in our culture from the eyes of another culture.  In my practice, I will be sure to communicate often with my coworkers and my supervisors if I even slightly suspect abuse since there are legal ramifications and it's my duty to take care of my patients.  I also am now aware that the nurse has the power to call an ethics committee.