Despite of the increasing knowledge in healthcare and bioethics, care for critically ill children remains understudied in Canadian context. Accepted standards of parental decisional autonomy and child best interests do not address adequately the complex moral problems involved in the care of vulnerable children. Using ethical theories and concepts, I will discuss the complex case of Mary Jane Peirce and formulate a comprehensive ethical decision using the Mcdonald’s Ethical Decision-making Framework.
Case study: Collecting Information
A four-month old premature baby raises a fundamental challenge to issues in care for critically ill children. According to …. (cite) Mary Jane, a 25 week preterm baby has been in neonatal intensive care ever since she was born. She is suffering from severe seizures, multiple hemorrhages and cerebral palsy. Mary Jane is able to respond to sensory stimuli, a clear sign of intact brain stem reflexes, but cannot breath on her own. The physicians are certain that Mary Jane will possibly be in a …show more content…
However, the moral goodness of an action cannot be judged in terms of outcomes or by a set of universal norms that are commonly proposed by the dominant models in bioethics. The choice in a moral dilemma must be reflective to the values of the decision maker with a a thoughtful consideration of meaningful specifics of the situation. If I am the parent and the decsion maker for Mary Jane, I would opt for non resuscitative care but continue with comfort treatment such as providing nutition and respirator. This treatment option is in accordance to the ethics of care. I personally would not want my child to be in distress when respirator is weaned or dehydrated when nutrition is ceased. I am certain that I would be in distressed and in need of reorientation in the face of dilemma. I will have a moral residue form the situation and that is something that I have to live
Case study: Collecting Information
A four-month old premature baby raises a fundamental challenge to issues in care for critically ill children. According to …. (cite) Mary Jane, a 25 week preterm baby has been in neonatal intensive care ever since she was born. She is suffering from severe seizures, multiple hemorrhages and cerebral palsy. Mary Jane is able to respond to sensory stimuli, a clear sign of intact brain stem reflexes, but cannot breath on her own. The physicians are certain that Mary Jane will possibly be in a …show more content…
However, the moral goodness of an action cannot be judged in terms of outcomes or by a set of universal norms that are commonly proposed by the dominant models in bioethics. The choice in a moral dilemma must be reflective to the values of the decision maker with a a thoughtful consideration of meaningful specifics of the situation. If I am the parent and the decsion maker for Mary Jane, I would opt for non resuscitative care but continue with comfort treatment such as providing nutition and respirator. This treatment option is in accordance to the ethics of care. I personally would not want my child to be in distress when respirator is weaned or dehydrated when nutrition is ceased. I am certain that I would be in distressed and in need of reorientation in the face of dilemma. I will have a moral residue form the situation and that is something that I have to live