Ethical Decision Health Care and Philosophy

Question: Discuss about the Ethical Decision for Health Care and Philosophy. Answer: Introduction: Cognitive biases are essentially systematic errors that predispose ones thinking in favor of a certain viewpoint over other viewpoints (Albisser Reiter-Theil, 2011). As far as the case study is concerned, there are several factors that might lead Mrs. jones to conclude that non-evidence based approach to her daughters diagnosis might be better than a traditional approach. There are three cognitive biases that affect health care decision making. These comprise of confirmation bias, optimism bias, outcome bias as well as overconfidence. Optimism bias is the tendency to be over-optimistic which results in individuals overestimating favorable and pleasing outcomes (McCaughey, Deirdre Bruning, 2010). Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for or interpret information in a manner that confirms ones prejudices while ignoring information that does not support the presumptions (Albisser Reiter-Theil, 2011). Outcome bias involves judging a decision based on outcomes rather than how the decisions were reached (Albisser Reiter-Theil, 2011). As far as overconfidence is concerned, too much confidence leads to people taking greater risks since they are more convinced that they are right in the decisions that they take (Albisser Reiter-Theil, 2011). I would strongly suggest to Mrs. Jones not to stop giving her daughter Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs since as powerful as these drugs may be, they are very effective. Anecdotes are not proven and just because she got positive results in the past, it does not mean that this will always be the case especially when dealing with people who are not health care professionals hence she should not be too overconfident. I would also tell her that there is evidence that the drug is works unlike her anecdote about being healed from an ear infection and cold which is non-evidence based. Furthermore, I would request Ms. Jones to deal with facts when making important decisions regarding her child instead of making assumptions particularly because they are most often vulnerable to cognitive bias (McCaughey, Deirdre Bruning, 2010). References Albisser, S. H., Reiter-Theil, S. (January 01, 2011). Avoiding bias in medical ethical decision-making: Lessons to be learnt from psychology research.Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy,14,155-62. McCaughey, Deirdre, Bruning, Nealia S. (2010).Rationality versus reality: the challenges of evidence-based decision making for health policy makers. (BioMed Central Ltd.) BioMed Central Ltd.