Out of two ethical dilemmas, one is beneficence vs non-maleficence. Beneficence is to doing what is in the best interests of the patient. In this scenario, although patient is in the persistent vegetative state, yet there is no obvious patient’s wish in the form of personal directive available for euthanasia. So, the nurse can only provide optimal patient care as per hospital protocols, policy and procedure. Non-maleficence is doing no harm to the patient. As the surgeon told the LPN to administer the tube feed while the man was lying flat on the bed because the family were too exhausted to look after the patient. This action will do harm to the patient and it is not in the best interests of the patient as this action will lead to other complications
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As in this case, there is no active and effective advance directive in place and the surgeon stated to uphold the wishes of the family. However, the verbal order sound unethical as HOB should be preferably 45° during and for at least one hour following tube feeding to reduce the risk of aspiration (Caple & Walsh, 2014, p.1). According to Draper and Slowther (2008),”In euthanasia, action is taken to ensure painless death of the patient” (p.114). So, it is even not a form of euthanasia because it will add to the sufferings of the patient due to the involved risk of aspiration and further complications (Caple & Walsh, 2014, pp. 1-14).Moreover, euthanasia should be motivated only by the interests of the patient who will be affected by this action, but should not take place due to the interests of the other people such as family members and significant others (Draper & Slowther, 2008, p.115). So, if the surgeon upholds the wishes of the family above the unknown wishes of the patient. It is not in accordance with medical ethics. Furthermore, the motivational action is maleficence in …show more content…
According to Draper and Slowther (2008),” The significant difference seems to be that the person performing euthanasia is well motivated: they sincerely believe that they are acting in the best interests of the person who dies as a result, whereas a murder is committed without regard for the interests of the victim” (p.113). It is understood that this action of the nurse will be considered as a murder in the future consideration. If the nurse carried out these verbal orders, she/he will be ultimately responsible for this action. Yes, she can deny the verbal order; moreover a nurse has the right to refuse unethical treatment. According to CLPNA codes of ethics, every nurse is responsible for his/her own actions, it does not matter if she is a new grad or a person with 20 years of experience in the health care as nurse (www.clpna.com). So, there is no reason for a nurse to be vulnerable to the surgeons if she works in accordance with professional
As in this case, there is no active and effective advance directive in place and the surgeon stated to uphold the wishes of the family. However, the verbal order sound unethical as HOB should be preferably 45° during and for at least one hour following tube feeding to reduce the risk of aspiration (Caple & Walsh, 2014, p.1). According to Draper and Slowther (2008),”In euthanasia, action is taken to ensure painless death of the patient” (p.114). So, it is even not a form of euthanasia because it will add to the sufferings of the patient due to the involved risk of aspiration and further complications (Caple & Walsh, 2014, pp. 1-14).Moreover, euthanasia should be motivated only by the interests of the patient who will be affected by this action, but should not take place due to the interests of the other people such as family members and significant others (Draper & Slowther, 2008, p.115). So, if the surgeon upholds the wishes of the family above the unknown wishes of the patient. It is not in accordance with medical ethics. Furthermore, the motivational action is maleficence in …show more content…
According to Draper and Slowther (2008),” The significant difference seems to be that the person performing euthanasia is well motivated: they sincerely believe that they are acting in the best interests of the person who dies as a result, whereas a murder is committed without regard for the interests of the victim” (p.113). It is understood that this action of the nurse will be considered as a murder in the future consideration. If the nurse carried out these verbal orders, she/he will be ultimately responsible for this action. Yes, she can deny the verbal order; moreover a nurse has the right to refuse unethical treatment. According to CLPNA codes of ethics, every nurse is responsible for his/her own actions, it does not matter if she is a new grad or a person with 20 years of experience in the health care as nurse (www.clpna.com). So, there is no reason for a nurse to be vulnerable to the surgeons if she works in accordance with professional