Ethical Dilemmas In Health Care

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One of the foundations of our modern healthcare system is that all things are equal with no involvement of harm or risk of third parties in regards to the patient’s overall well-being. Moreover, every individual that is considered competent and well-established, has the privilege to want or refuse any medical treatment or nursing intervention (Kluge, 2008). This case study presents a competent individual, who sets in place an advanced directive with directions to refuse any blood transfusion, regardless of life-saving measures due to their cultural practice of Jehovah’s Witness. Without previous warning, the patient becomes senile and starts developing bleeding ulcers, requiring the need for urgent blood transfusion (Steinbock, London & Arras, 2013). An advance directive is an important document to have in place for life-saving measures because it will help the healthcare provider decide the most ethical decision for the patient, allow family members to see what the patient wants and grant their request, and help determine the best interest for the patient with the way they functioned prior to being incompetent. This specific situation calls for possible tension between the contemporaneous interest of the …show more content…
Additionally, this would not bring any sought of justice or equality in this situation because this is not something the patient wanted and would be going against her will and religion. The purpose of an advanced directive is to state your consent and wishes of what you want to be done with your body if any emergent situation were to happen. With that being said, this is something healthcare providers constantly face on a daily issue, knowing they can in fact save the patient’s life but the patient refuses and states otherwise (Steinbock, London & Arras,

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