Palliative Care Issues - Essay Example

According to the world health organization, palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life both for the patient and the family facing a problem associated with a life-threatening illness (World Health Organization, 2004). The key aim of palliative care is to provide prevention and relief of suffering through the early identification and treatment of pain and other physical and psychological problem. In understanding palliative care, this paper is purposed to present the case of Mr Martin Cavanagh, who was diagnosed with COPD and was undergoing an end of life care management as documented in the film A Good Death.

The patient presented with difficulties in maintenance of activities of daily living as the COPD was at an advanced stage making simple activities such as dressing cumbersome. In a narrative form, the patient states how he has experienced respiratory flairs and had be frequently hospitalized in a bid to manage his condition. Additionally, the film presents a discussion with the palliative care specialists who introduce the concept of advanced care planning and explains its significance. The case portrays the importance of quality care for a patient with end-stage disease and the significance of the achievement of a minimum but dignified life that ends in a dignified death. This is demonstrated in the film through Mr Martin’s visit to the hospice when his breathing capability rapidly deteriorates and dies with his family around him to offer support and comfort.

According to the South Australia Advance Care-Directives Act 2013, impaired decision-making capability is one of the major legal considerations during the care of a patient with a life-limiting illness. According to the impaired decision-making capacity act (section 7), a person is taken to be impaired in decision-making if either the person is not capable of understanding any information that may be relevant to a decision or is incapable of retaining information made (South Australia, 2013, pp. 10-34). About the case, Mr Martin Cavanagh was considered to have a normal decision-making capacity despite presenting with a terminal illness. This is because the patient was well-oriented to time, space and person and could make viable decisions.

About the patent refusal of service operation guideline, (SAAS, 2013, p.1), an adult aged 16 years and above has the right to refuse treatment if he/she feels the treatment is either not beneficial or leads to harm. According to this concept, Mr Martin Cavanagh had a right to refuse treatment. The patient in this instance has a right to choose a place for care provision like in his/her home or at a hospice. Refusal of health care services is a provision of the advanced care directive.

Autonomy is a crucial ethical consideration in the management of a patient with a life-limiting condition. In all instances, when the patient is capable of making his/her decisions, the right to autonomy must always be observed. In this regard, a patient has a right to refuse medication or transportation. In observation of the right to autonomy, the patient’s decisions should be voluntary; implying that the decisions should be reached without cohesion or influence (Nelson, 2014, pp. 64-76). Nevertheless, the patient should be informed of the risks and the consequences of his/her action, and this right should be granted only when the patient can understand the nature and the implications of their decision. In this case, Mr Martin Cavanagh had a right of autonomy in choosing his advanced care directives as he was capable and competent in making decisions (Pozgar, 2013, pp. 90).

Beneficence is equally a crucial ethical consideration in the management of a patient. Being an ethical principle, beneficence dictates that the actions of a healthcare provider should be geared towards helping to prevent harm or improving the condition of the patient (Beauchamp, 2013, pp. 66-72). In the management of Mr Martin Cavanagh, the legal consideration of beneficence was observed primarily in the maintenance of respiratory competency and the provision of psychological care.

Palliative care encompasses having a genuine interest in the patient as an individual and involves the conveyance of hope despite the eminent of death. The provision of palliative care helps in the relief of unnecessary physical and psychological pain caused by the life-limiting condition (Quill & Abernethy, 2013, pp.1175–1177). In this case, Mr Martin Cavanagh was cared for by a multi-disciplinary team of members including palliative care specialists, nurses, physicians and family members. This helped in providing a holistic intervention in the management of the patient. The inclusion of advanced care directives helped Mr. Martin Cavanagh in making his care choices and I believe the patient was cared for appropriately and thus allowed to live and die a dignified death (Margaret & Hugh, 2009, 12-39).

Being managed in a familiar environment, with the team consisting of family members, the patient became less anxious. Emotional support is an important element in palliative care. According to Kubler Ross’s stages of grieving, the patient was in a denial stage which can result in self-destruction if not properly managed (Businessballs.com, 2014, pp. 123-131). I consider the management approach provided to the patient to have been satisfactory because the patient was managed with a team approach, which offered care both to the physical and psychological needs of the patient.

If I were a team member in the management of Mr Martin Cavanagh, I would have reinforced the management provided to the patient as I feel the management was appropriate. Additionally, I acknowledge the services of the ambulance and the paramedics who ensured the transportation of the patient was undertaken within an appropriate time. The significance of the ambulance and paramedics in the case is portrayed in a brief comment by Mr Martin Cavanagh when stating that in case of worsening of his condition; the ambulance can always be called (SAAS, 2014 p.1).