ETHICAL DILEMMAS AND DOCTORS' DISCRETION IN MEDICAL DECISION MAKING IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
Keywords:
Ethical Dilemma, Doctor's Discretion, Medical Decision, Emergency Department, Informed ConsentAbstract
Medical decision-making in the Emergency Department (ED) is often coloured by ethical dilemmas and the need for doctor discretion due to the pressure of critical situations, time constraints, and the condition of patients who are often unable to give consent to medical action. Biomedical ethical principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice must be carried out in a balanced manner, while doctors are also required to comply with legal standards and operational procedures. In an emergency, doctors have a moral and legal obligation to provide immediate help to save lives or prevent disability, even without informed consent, as long as the action is professionally accountable and in accordance with medical standards. However, the application of this discretion still has the potential to cause ethicomedicolegal problems, especially if communication and documentation are not carried out optimally. Therefore, strengthening the understanding of ethics, crisis communication training, and the preparation of clear ethical protocols are needed so that doctors can make decisions that are professional, accountable, and orientated towards patient safety in the emergency room.
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