A resident has been falling at the nursing home. As a team, the Clinical, Therapy, Social Services, and Housekeeping teams tackle this problem by suggesting ways to improve safety for this resident. Clinical suggests getting an order from the physician to see if there is a medical reason through testing why the patient is falling. Therapy proposes to assess the patient for muscle weakness so they can start working with the patient to help them become stronger. Housekeeping wants to make sure there are no obstacles in the resident's room such as extra furniture or slippery floors. Social Services may do a BIM or Mood assessment to see if there is a change in cognition or mood due to a specific diagnosis such as Dementia.

What ethical problem is represented in this case (for the provider)?

What bioethics principle is present? (for the providers)

• identify the ethical problem presented (ethical distress type a or b, ethical dilemma, locus of authority. (2 pt)
  • Ethical distress (moral distress) type A: constraint
  • Ethical distress type B: uncertainty
  • Ethical dilemma: two or more acceptable but mutually exclusive courses of action
• Identify an applicable bioethical principle (2 pt)
  • Autonomy (exercising or respecting personal freedom)
  • Beneficence (doing good)
  • Non-maleficence (doing no harm)
  • Justice (distributing benefits to those deserving of the benefits