According to Ed 's physician, if he is not placed on a ventilator, he will die within a few days from pneumonia and lung congestion causing low levels of oxygen. These situations are ethically tough to evaluate, as their is never a right or wrong answer, but more so using one 's best clinical judgement if the patient still holds the capacity to make sound decisions. If the physician believed as if Ed 's symptoms are effecting his decision making ability, then I believe Dr. Goldstein 's act of calling Bert was ethically sound. "It is a patient 's written directive to continue or to withhold treatment or to administer painkilling drugs if the person has incurable disease, illness, or condition via which the patient has become incompetent and
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Ed 's advanced directive, however, creates an issue when he refuses treatment while not being terminally ill. "The health care provider can ethically refuse to cooperate in such situations, not only on the ground of individual conscience, if that is the case, but also because the health care professions should not be involved in helping nonterminal patients to shorten their lives significantly...Granted that health care providers have no right to force treatment on patients, it seems clear that health or mildly ill patients do not have the right to force physicians or hospitals to provide positive support for their attempts at self-destruction" (Baillie, Garrett, Garrett, McGeehan, Health Care Ethics: Principles and Problems, 2009, p.175-176). If Bert is not able to make decisions in regards to Ed 's healthcare, Ed 's next of kin will be given the privilege to do so. Again, Bert has the power to overrule Ed 's advanced directive, and although this is not advised and unethical, a court order would be needed to go against Bert 's …show more content…
Since Eric 's mother is not a Durable Power of attorney, objectively speaking she has no power in this case. She may be able to convince Bert to make that decision, but as Bert has been trusted as Ed 's Durable Power of Attorney, he should refrain from absorbing others opinions in which objects Ed 's wishes. Dr. Goldstein is in a difficult situation is which a patient of his is passively killing himself by refusing treatment when he is nonterminal. His communication methods, however, were mild and insensitive when speaking with
Ed 's advanced directive, however, creates an issue when he refuses treatment while not being terminally ill. "The health care provider can ethically refuse to cooperate in such situations, not only on the ground of individual conscience, if that is the case, but also because the health care professions should not be involved in helping nonterminal patients to shorten their lives significantly...Granted that health care providers have no right to force treatment on patients, it seems clear that health or mildly ill patients do not have the right to force physicians or hospitals to provide positive support for their attempts at self-destruction" (Baillie, Garrett, Garrett, McGeehan, Health Care Ethics: Principles and Problems, 2009, p.175-176). If Bert is not able to make decisions in regards to Ed 's healthcare, Ed 's next of kin will be given the privilege to do so. Again, Bert has the power to overrule Ed 's advanced directive, and although this is not advised and unethical, a court order would be needed to go against Bert 's …show more content…
Since Eric 's mother is not a Durable Power of attorney, objectively speaking she has no power in this case. She may be able to convince Bert to make that decision, but as Bert has been trusted as Ed 's Durable Power of Attorney, he should refrain from absorbing others opinions in which objects Ed 's wishes. Dr. Goldstein is in a difficult situation is which a patient of his is passively killing himself by refusing treatment when he is nonterminal. His communication methods, however, were mild and insensitive when speaking with