Develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a health care professional. In your assessment:

1. Select one of the case studies presented in the Assessment 03 Supplement: Applying Ethical Principles [PDF]: (Below is the one I chose)

Case Study: Confidentiality and Mental Health Dr. Laura Simmons, a licensed clinical psychologist, has been treating Mr. Alex Turner, a 35- year-old software engineer, for symptoms of severe depression and anxiety over the past six months. Their sessions have been characterized by trust and open communication, with Alex often sharing his deepest fears and concerns. During a particularly intense session, Alex reveals to Dr. Simmons that he has been having recurring thoughts of harming a colleague due to a longstanding professional rivalry and recent personal conflicts. He describes detailed plans and expresses a genuine intent to act on these thoughts. Dr. Simmons is immediately faced with an ethical dilemma. She values the principle of confidentiality, which is foundational to the therapeutic relationship. Alex has trusted her with his innermost thoughts, and she knows that breaking this trust could potentially harm their therapeutic alliance. However, she is also bound by the principles of beneficence and non- maleficence. Beneficence compels her to act in the best interest of her patient and those around him, while non-maleficence emphasizes the importance of “doing no harm

1. Summarize the facts in the selected case study and use the three components of an ethical decision-making model to analyze an ethical problem or issue and the factors that contributed to it.

· Identify which case study you selected and briefly summarize the facts surrounding it. Identify the problem or issue that presents an ethical dilemma or challenge and describe that dilemma or challenge.

· Identify who is involved or affected by the ethical problem or issue.

· Access the Ethical Decision-Making Model media piece and use the three components of the ethical decision-making model (moral awareness, moral judgment, and ethical behavior) to analyze the ethical issues.

· Apply the three components outlined in the Ethical Decision-Making Model media.

Below is the model and further details.

Ethical decision-making at an individual level and one’s ethical behavior can be viewed in three primary steps using an ethical decision-making model.

First is one’s moral awareness, recognizing the existence of an ethical dilemma. This is the pathway to establishing the need for an ethical decision. This awareness is an individual sensitivity to one’s values and personal morals.

Once a personal awareness is evident, we can make a judgment in deciding what is right or wrong. This sounds simple, yet there are a number of variables driving this personal judgment. One variable is the individual differences and cognitive bias we all have based on our personal history and experiences. A second variable is the organization. This variable may be influenced from a group, organizational or cultural perspective. A code of conduct or standards of behavior may also influence our judgment.