Three Legal/Ethical Issues
1. Surrogate Decision Making
2. Informed Consent
3. Patent Capacity to care for self
Discussion of Three Legal/Ethical Issues
Legal/Ethical issue 1: Surrogate Decision Making
This is necessary in the event patients are incapable of making necessary healthcare decision for themselves. A person appointed as a surrogate decision maker will act in place of the patient in the event any situation arise, example of this can be decision regarding surgery or any other treatment, resuscitating a patient among other things. It is important to for the surrogate decision maker to avoid substituted judgment, which simply means the surrogate decision maker to engage in a decision that will be in line with the interest of the patient not the decision …show more content…
In this scenario, there is a living will that clearly specifies the patient does not want ventilator support or other artificial life support in the event of a permanent unconscious condition or terminal condition, and it has been determine by the primary physician that are condition is permanent. I will advise the husband that the condition is permanent and allow him time to grief the loss of the loved one, then I will put forward the desire of the healthcare organization to follow the instructions specified in the living will and withdraw the life support.
Legal/Ethical issue 3 :
Due to the present condition of the patient of not been able to care for herself, I will tell the husband that he is the only person who can honor the wish of the patient by withdrawing the life support. I will also tell him that by so doing, he respects the patient and helped her reduce the suffering she will go through in the process of been placed on ventilator.
Reference:
ETHICS IN MEDICINE. University of Washington School
1. Surrogate Decision Making
2. Informed Consent
3. Patent Capacity to care for self
Discussion of Three Legal/Ethical Issues
Legal/Ethical issue 1: Surrogate Decision Making
This is necessary in the event patients are incapable of making necessary healthcare decision for themselves. A person appointed as a surrogate decision maker will act in place of the patient in the event any situation arise, example of this can be decision regarding surgery or any other treatment, resuscitating a patient among other things. It is important to for the surrogate decision maker to avoid substituted judgment, which simply means the surrogate decision maker to engage in a decision that will be in line with the interest of the patient not the decision …show more content…
In this scenario, there is a living will that clearly specifies the patient does not want ventilator support or other artificial life support in the event of a permanent unconscious condition or terminal condition, and it has been determine by the primary physician that are condition is permanent. I will advise the husband that the condition is permanent and allow him time to grief the loss of the loved one, then I will put forward the desire of the healthcare organization to follow the instructions specified in the living will and withdraw the life support.
Legal/Ethical issue 3 :
Due to the present condition of the patient of not been able to care for herself, I will tell the husband that he is the only person who can honor the wish of the patient by withdrawing the life support. I will also tell him that by so doing, he respects the patient and helped her reduce the suffering she will go through in the process of been placed on ventilator.
Reference:
ETHICS IN MEDICINE. University of Washington School