Case Scenarios – Applying the Principles to Practice

The following case examples are used to illustrate how the principles are applied in
decision making and behaviour in practice. Each case is explored with reference to the
principles, but also with brief discussion of the values underpinning those principles.

RTs are encouraged to use the Steps to Ethical Decision Making to work through these examples. The algorithm may also prove useful for determining the best possible course of action when confronted with ethical issues that arise as part of a RTs practice. This can be used in conjunction with their organization’s established ethical decision-making processes (e.g., Staff Ethicist, Medical Ethics Committee, etc).