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Ethics and nursing papers
Ethics and nursing papers
Ethics and nursing papers
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The ethical issue that was upsetting in the Wit, was the ending. Vivian Bearing the patient had a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order and Jason Posner simply ignored it. Mr. Posner only cares about his experimental drug that was used on her. Edson (1998) points this out when Mr. Posner said “She’s research”(p.82). She was already incapacitated when he refer to her as an experiment. This proved that his main focus was the treatment and not the patient. Mr. Posner did not even give or offered Mrs. Bearing a DNR. Instead, Susie Monahan the nurse had to fulfill that role. This was very disgraceful reading the book because Mr. Posner is supposed to make the patient aware of her treatment options. When Bearing agreed to the DNR order, she was very
Patrick is a 15 year-old-boy who is suffering from Hirschsprung’s disease, which is a disease of the digestive tract. Since he was a young boy, he has had multiple operations performed on him, each taking a small portion of his digestive tract. Currently in the story, there is little to no tract left and the people in the ethics committee are trying to make the dreadful decision if they should perform more operations on the Patrick, or simply encompass a DNR (do not resuscitate). For this specific meeting, Patrick’s mother, Oria, was supposed to show up and listen to what the doctors think about Patrick’s situation and help make a decision. Oria was late to the meeting, so the ethics committee started without her. When she finally did arrive, nearly an hour late, they explained to her that surgery is not the option anymore for Patrick, and that shocking him back to life will also be more harm than good for the young boy. It is during this time that Belkin tells us, “She hates meetings like these. She feels she is being judged, and she is right. She is confused by the medicalese and embarrassed at her shadowy presence in her own baby’s life “ (Belkin p. 45). Oria feels that the doctors, nurses, and others in the hospital who are taking care of Partick are judging her, especially in meetings like the one previously talked about. She feels as if the doctors are looking down on her because she works so much and does not spend sufficient
While the majority of the book critiques the healthcare system, Chapter 13 focuses more on key actions and personality traits that help Dr. Stone relate to patients. Although this noteworthy, compassionate physician attempts to develop an understanding of his patients’ values and goals, he still fails Mrs. Jackson by trying to retain cultural competency by tiptoeing around end-of-life decisions. Conversations about feeding tube placement and DNR orders could have minimized Mrs. Jackson’s unnecessary
The ethical principle of nonmaleficence demands to first do no harm and in this case protect the patient from harm since she cannot protect. Nurses must be aware in situations such as this, that they are expected to advocate for patients in a right and reasonable way. The dilemma with nonmaleficence is that Mrs. Boswell has no chance of recovery because of her increasing debilitating mental incapability and the obvious harm that outweighs the intended benefits. If the decision were to continue treatment, suffering of the patient and family would be evident. Autonomy is the right to making own decisions and freedom to choose a plan of action. When making decisions regarding treatment of another person, it is important to respect the expressed wishes of the individual. John says that his mother would want to live as long as she could, but questions arise related to her quality of life and perception of prolonged suffering by prolonging the dying process. In BOOK states that quality of life changes throughout one’s life ...
Barbra Huttmann’s purpose in writing her story in A Crime of Compassion is to convince people that no matter their beliefs, it is sometimes more humane to let someone die if they are suffering. This was the case with a cancer patient of hers named Mac. She communicates this directly by saying, “Until there is legislation making it a criminal act to code a patient has requested the right to die, we will all of us risk of the same face as Mac” (Huttmann 422).
Barbara Huttman’s “A Crime of Compassion” has many warrants yet the thesis is not qualified. This is a story that explains the struggles of being a nurse and having to make split-second decisions, whether they are right or wrong. Barbara was a nurse who was taking care of a cancer patient named Mac. Mac had wasted away to a 60-pound skeleton (95). When he walked into the hospital, he was a macho police officer who believed he could single-handedly protect the whole city (95). His condition worsened every day until it got so bad that he had to be resuscitated two or three times a day. Barbara eventually gave into his wishes to be let go. Do you believe we should have the right to die?
Now that the summary is out there for all who did not get to read the story let’s make some connections to everyday life. In the story is it said by the author that, “All the while I hated myself for having wept before the needle went in, convinced that the nurse and my mother we...
She controlled every movement and every person’s actions and thoughts. She made the doctors so miserable when they did not follow her instructions, that they begged to be transferred out if. “I'm disappointed in you. Even if one hadn't read his history all one should need to do is pay attention to his behavior on the ward to realize how absurd the suggestion is. This man is not only very very sick, but I believe he is definitely a Potential Assaultive” (). This quote from the book illustrated how Nurse Ratched controlled her ward. She manipulated people into siding with her regardless of whether it was the right decision. This was malpractice by Nurse Ratched because she did not allow the doctor, who was trained to diagnose patients, to do his job properly. Instead, she manipulated the doctor to diagnose the patients incorrectly in order to benefit her interests rather than those of the
There are various ethical dilemmas surrounding Josie's Story. "An ethical dilemma is a situation in which an individual is compelled to choose between two actions that will affect the welfare of a sentient being, and both actions are reasonably justified as being good, nether action is readily justified as being good, or the goodness of the actions are uncertain" (Beckford, 2012). The ethical dilemmas involved in Josie's Story are the lesser of two evils in which both choices are bad. The ethical dilemma in this case involves that the nurse withholds the methadone based on Mrs. Kings wishes, causing serious complications of withdrawal such as diarrhea and an upset stomach. On the other hand, the nurse administers the methadone and follows the orders of the pain management team even though Josie is severely de...
...endent judgments about their own fate. In keeping with this trend there is now a growing drive to review the current laws on euthanasia and assisted suicide.” (McCormack, 1998) Nurses are faced with various ethical dilemmas every day. If theses ethical decisions are not treated in a professional manner there can be harsh consequences for both the patient and the nurse.
In this essay the author will rationalize the relevance of professional, ethical and legal regulations in the practice of nursing. The author will discuss and analyze the chosen scenario and critically review the action taken in the expense of the patient and the care workers. In addition, the author will also evaluates the strength and limitations of the scenario in a broader issue with reasonable judgement supported by theories and principles of ethical and legal standards.
In the opening of the film, Bearing is shown being talked down to by her physician, Dr. Kelekian, as he rushes through Bearing’s diagnosis and his plan for treating her cancer. The quickness and emotionally
In the scenario the decision made by the RN and the paramedics have breached the respect of autonomy of Elsie and failed to respect the decision made by Elsie. Megan-Janes 20.. implifies that people have the right and are to free to choose and act on their choices provided that their decision and act doesn’t impinge on moral interest of other people. Likewise Elsie’s choice to not to get advance treatment was of no harm to any other people rather than herself. In health settings Principle of Autonomy protests the patients right to be respected as dignified human being capable of making decision what is right for them even if everyone thinks that it is not right( ).In short health professionals must allow patient to participate in the decision making when it comes to their care and treatment. Furthermore (Harris 2011) have explained that it is very vital to respect patient’s autonomus decision to refuse intervention which is based on the principle of autonomy. Furthermore, in the scenario where the pressure of patient’s autonomy is in line, the argument depends on other moral principles( ).In this says Principle of non-maleficence gives justification. The Principle of non-maleficence says above all do no harm which means not to injure others or harm them ( ). Likewise , the RN and the Paramedics in the scenario had no intention of doing any harm to Elsie rather than saving her life. ( ) suggested that in nursing context the principle of non-maleficence would provide justification for performing any act which unfairly injures or makes a person to suffer which was avoidable. This will explain why the health professionals performed those acts despite the protest of Elsie which resulted in death of Elsie. Principle of Beneficence is another moral principle which defends against the principle of
I believe the nurse was concerned about the facility rules and regulation more than the patient's suffering. She did not care about the dying 87-year-old lady that really needed her help. After all, the purpose of nursing is to help take care of patient at critical moments like this. I was actually shocked to see the nurse refuse to care for the suffocating patient. I do not think her reasoning has to do with respects patient autonomy at the moment.
Diane was a patient of Dr. Timothy Quill, who was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. Diane overcame alcoholism and had vaginal cancer in her youth. She had been under his care for a period of 8 years, during which an intimate doctor-patient bond had been established. It was Dr. Quill’s observation that “she was an incredibly clear, at times brutally honest, thinker and communicator.” This observation became especially cogent after Diane heard of her diagnosis. Dr. Quill informed her of the diagnosis, and of the possible treatments. This series of treatments entailed multiple chemotherapy sessions, followed by a bone marrow transplant, accompanied by an array of ancillary treatments. At the end of this series of treatments, the survival rate was 25%, and it was further complicated in Diane’s case by the absence of a closely matched bone-marrow donor. Diane chose not to receive treatment, desiring to spend whatever time she had left outside of the hospital. Dr. Quill met with her several times to ensure that she didn’t change her mind, and he had Diane meet with a psychologist with whom she had met before. Then Diane complicated the case by informing Dr. Quill that she be able to control the time of her death, avoiding the loss of dignity and discomfort which would precede her death. Dr. Quinn informed her of the Hemlock Society, and shortly afterwards, Diane called Dr. Quinn with a request for barbiturates, complaining of insomnia. Dr. Quinn gave her the prescription and informed her how to use them to sleep, and the amount necessary to commit suicide. Diane called all of her friends to say goodbye, including Dr. Quinn, and took her life two days after they met.
Nurses are faced with ethical dilemmas in their practices often. Respecting a patient’s belief or choice, whether we think it is right or wrong, is a must. Jehovah Witness (JW) patients refuse blood transfusions and their life can be in danger, but that is their right to choose and nurses must respect that. Patients decide not to have a lifesaving surgery or chemotherapy, which is their personal decisions. We, as nurses, can educate and inform, but eventually it is the patient’s right to refuse or accept treatment. This writer feels that when good morals and character are in place, the best possible ethical decisions can be made. These decisions are not necessarily right or wrong, but the best choices for the patient and their care based on the patient’s right to