Religion and Theology - Essay Example

Religion and Theology Case Study Facts of the Case: Mrs. C., an 85-year-old woman with severe emphysema, is found unresponsive by the nursing staff. Since she has no living will or advance directive, an ambulance is called. Emergency medical personnel perform endotracheal intubation and resuscitate her successfully. She then is taken to the local hospital for treatment of pneumonia and respiratory failure. After treatment for her medical conditions, she cannot be weaned from the respirator. The patient is able to communicate her wishes by using head signals and writing notes. After several weeks of treatment, she asks that the respirator be discontinued and she be allowed to die. Mrs. C. asserts emphatically that she would not have wanted to be resuscitated in the first place, although she never executed an advanced directive or discussed these specific wishes with anyone.  Cite the case that you are using. Describe the situation and the ethical dilemma (10%) The case presents an ethical dilemma for medical practitioners in decision-making because the Hippocratic Oath mandates them to preserve or help prolong life. The patients however, in this case, have decline further medical help via resuscitation and that she has wanted to die. The case presents a dilemma between pro-choice versus pro-life and an ethical dilemma on freedom versus control. These certainly will affect the nurses professionally because the situation will summon all their professional sense of values against the patient’s right to make autonomous decision of one’s life. It will also bring to a reflective focus whether nurses could tolerate the choice that may result to harm or the nurse should prevent the consequence of this choice (OpenLearn LabSpace). What case are you using? Cite the source if using one from a source other than the sample  dilemmas shared. Please summarize the case in a few bullets.  Modern medical practice recognize the increasing complexity ethical dilemmas in situational, it is therefore very vital for practitioners to be engaged in ethical discourses to learn ethical principles and for them to be able to be involved in decision-making processes. The code of ethics for nurses demands that they ought to practice their profession with compassion, respect to patient’s dignity and their diversity, consideration of patients social condition and status, and the nature of their problems. What is the ethical dilemma in this case (ie, withholding or withdrawing life support, euthanasia, allocation of scarce resources, etc.). Identify and discuss the dilemma in general (not related to this specific case). As discussed earlier, the ethical dilemma between the right of the patient to make an autonomous decision over her life versus the professional responsibility and commitment of nurses to protect further harm to patient’s life. Though both the Hippocratic Oath and the code of ethics recognize the fundamental rights in healthcare practice, the right of the patient to decide for one’s life is also a right vested for the patient; however, processing it via informed consent is possible to resolve the moral and legal concerns that may arise from this dilemma (Nursing World). The patient in this case and her family should be completely and accurately information in a manner that could let them reasonably weighs the benefits and burdens of patient’s decision, including the potential and available options as alternative remedies (Nursing World, 2013). As such, the possible termination of life support and treatment are done free from undue influence, force, coercion, and penalty (Nursing World). Medical practitioners should ensure that the decision reached, considering the circumstances, be done with family members of the patients or other significant individuals. Step 1: Identify ethical issues (10%)  ? Identify the characteristics of the problem. Describe the problem The problem posed critical ethical dilemma for the patient and for the medical practitioners. It’s a problem of freedom of choice versus control and autonomy versus. If contextualized on the seven principles in health practice, the principles of autonomy, informed consent, beneficence, and nonmaleficence (NYSNA, 2013). Step 2: Gather the facts (10%)  ? What is fact? What is opinion?  The facts in this case are the written materials Mrs. C provides to communicate her wishes. The opinions in this case are the viewpoints by the medical professionals that Mrs. C should receive medical attention to save her live. ? What are the legal ramifications?  The legal ramifications in this case are the ethical codes of the nursing profession to prolong live and the freedom of the patient to her existence. ? Has this issue been decided by the courts before?  There have been many legal cases relating to violation of medical practices that has been brought to the attention of the judiciary to seek legal remedies and indemnification to harm done to the life of a patient. ? What are the core ethical principles (refer to 7 ethical principles from week 5) that may  be impacted and why?  The medical profession have always been consistent to the ethical theories of utilitarianism and deontology. The first refers to the goodness that ought to be delivered to the highest number that could benefit and the latter refers to the way things are undertaken or the processes or the mechanism on how an issue is resolved instead of its consequences (NYSNA). The ethical dimension of healthcare require that nurses should be truthful, respectful of confidentiality, respect autonomy of decision-makings but do so with informed consent, value beneficence and nonmaleficence, and must perform duties with equal sense of justice (NYSNA). ? Clarify personal and professional values or Identify your personal values, professional values, and the values of others as they relate to the situation.  Personal values are those significant values earned and imbibed as a person and those learned from the family, church, school, customs, and community. Professional values refer to the code of conduct enshrined in the code of ethics for healthcare practitioners. The values of others refer to the ethical issues they adhere to depending on their respective culture, rearing, customs, condition of the family and level of knowledge they possess for decision-making. Step 3: Consider at least two options to address dilemma (5%)  The two options of addressing dilemmas: (a) discuss the issues thoroughly and reasonably with the members of the family or one’s significant others and the implications of all options and (b) offer alternative treatment method to alleviate the condition of the patient. Step 4: Weigh and evaluate the potential options (15%)  Option 1:  If the patient wanted to stop resuscitation, then it is possible that it may lessen her remaining period of living but it can also lessen the family’s medical expenses. It can also probably help the patient to spend her remaining period nearer to her family except that extraordinary care is required and the family member for healthcare needs of the patient should provide more attention. In this condition, the family should be prepared for any possible eventuality of patient’s worsening condition. Option 2 If the health professionals declined to the patients request. Then probably the patient life would be prolonged which would come along with increased medical expenses. Additionally, this would prolong the patient suffering period. This option would also allow the patient to spend more days with her family members as well with other important individuals. ? What happens to the individual involved, given each option?  They are given information and are allowed to weigh their options too. They are therefore inspired to take responsibility for their patient more. ? What are the benefits of each option? What are the disadvantages of each?  Option 1: Arguments for: Lessen medical expenses. Arguments against:  The nursing professional are mandated to prolong life. Option 2 Arguments for:  Alternative remedies can be undertaken to resolve the health issues of the patient’s which can be sourced from the advice of the physician. Arguments against:  Alternative remedies cannot alleviate the condition of the patient and may in the end, require full professional attention or may reach the peak when patient lose her life. Step 4a: What Ethical Theory are you going to use to make the choice? Please identify it and then identify the decision-making process as it pertains to this dilemma in a step by step fashion (10%)  I am going to make use of the Ethical Theory of informed consent to resolve the dilemma of patient’s autonomy to make choices over her life versus the Code of Ethics for Nursing Practitioners. The decision making process will wholly rely on the patient viewpoint. First, the patient will be given the opportunity to provide her wishes. She will then be provided with the potential outcomes. The patient decision will finally be accepted. Whatever is perceived best for the patient and her condition should be upheld well. Step 5: Decide and act. What is your decision and why? (10%)  If I am given the privilege to decide, I will confer the situation to the patient’s family. They will be informed of her choice to stop the resuscitation and her decision to stop the treatment. I will discuss the matter extensively to include its implications and in case they will abide with the decision with the patient, the agreement to such must be done in writing and signature. This way, I am they are able to secure informed consent and they are well-informed too of their responsibilities. Step 6: How would you assess outcomes (10%)  ? How would you, as the Ethics Committee, assess and evaluate both the process and  outcomes of your ethical decision making in order to track creative solutions,  unanticipated consequences, and overall satisfaction with the results of the plan of  action by all of the parties involved? The matter will be assessed using the deontological theory and using the Code of Ethics of medical profession. The decision, if made consistent to the wishes of the patient, should be put into record and must be signed by family members. Work Cited OpenLearn LabSpace. Health Management, Ethics and Research Heat Module. 2013. Web 22 Nov. 2013. Nursing World. Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. NYSNA. Position Statement: Role of Registered Professional Nurse in Ethical Decision-making, US: Nysna.org, 2013. web. 22 Nov. 2013. Read More