Names:
Group Number: _____
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Directions:
 After reviewing the Ethics for Interprofessional Practice slideshow, please meet with your group, review the
case below, and apply the steps in ethical decision-making to complete this assignment.
 Only 1 assignment per group needs to be submitted via Canvas Today by 11:40 am.
 Please type the names of students who actively participated in your group discussion today. Students who
were absent should NOT have their name on this assignment.
Case: (adapted from Purtilo, 2005)
Mrs. P is an 87 year old widow who has lived alone in an apartment since her husband died over 10 years ago. Two
months ago, she fell off a step stool and had a right hip fracture. She was found by her daughter, D, on the floor,
where she had been lying for 2 days. For the past 8 weeks, Mrs. P has been recovering in a local health care facility.
During this time you have been working with her as part of her healthcare team.
Mrs. P states that she wants to return home. You have your doubts as to whether she will be able to manage in her
apartment alone, even after her fracture heals. You have suggested the possibility of home health aide services to
the team.
One day, D mentions that she has decided to put her mother in a nursing home and has begun to remove her
furniture and other belongings from the apartment. You state that Mrs. P should be told this information, but D insists
that Mrs. P would die if she knew she was not going back to her apartment now. D wants to simply bring Mrs. P to
the nursing home upon discharge. She asks you to not tell this to Mrs. P and to not act differently so she “won’t
suspect anything.” You tell D you are uncomfortable with this and D tells you that she has already discussed this
with Dr. H and he is on board. You call Dr. H and express your discomfort. He says he agrees with D and urges you
to go along with it because it is consistent with the way some families have handled it in the past.
The next time you see Mrs. P, she talks excitedly about returning home. You become more uncomfortable. This
morning you see Mrs. P and she is crying. She says, “I trust you and am so glad for all the help you have given me.
I have a feeling, though, that something bad is going on. D and Dr. H are acting strange. My neighbor told me that
my daughter was moving some stuff from my apartment. D hasn’t said anything about moving me into a nursing
home, has she?”
Assignment
Step 1: Gather information
A. What additional information would your group like to gather about this case/situation?
Step 2: Identify the ethical problem
B. What ethical principles, if any, are being compromised?
Step 3: Utilize an ethical approach to evaluate the problem
C. What individual factors may influence your groups’ decision-making process?
D. Thinking about the rights/responsibilities of all involved, list at least 3 possible alternatives for how to
respond to Mrs. P.
Step 4: Evaluate alternatives
E. What are the potential consequences of each alternative listed in step 3, question D?
Step 5: Implement the decision
F. As a group, how would you respond in this situation and why?
Step 6: Evaluate the decision
G. How would your group evaluate the decision you selected in step 5, question F?