Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 600–700 words tha

Question

Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 600–700 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.

•Discuss the ethical role of a manager in a long-term care facility when faced with a family decision to withhold nutrition and fluids to a terminal and semicomatose patient. Refer to Hodgson's ethical decision-making framework or other ethical decision-making frameworks of your choice

Explanation / Answer

Decision to withhold/provide nutrition and fluids to a terminal and semi-comatose patient is most difficult to make and it has to be taken considering all the stakeholders in mind. A critical analysis is required on benefits vs burden in withholding/providing the terminal health care.

To arrive at this crucial decision, let’s consider the Hodgson’s ethical decision making framework.

Based on the information given, we need to make few assumptions to arrive at the decision.

Examine the situation:

Facts of the case –

Key stakeholders –

Key stakeholders of the patient and his treatment are patient’s family members and friends, hospital physicians, authority and staff.

Opinions of stakeholders –

Family members of patient – Family members of the patient expect the treatment to be provided until the patient gets cured however minimal the chance might be.

Physicians and hospital authority – Physicians clearly understand the patient’s current situation and based on the patient’s condition, they will let the patient’s family members decide.

Establish the dilemma:

Driving force behind stakeholder’s option and outcome -

Patient’s family members generally have less understanding on the technical aspects of the cure and its effectiveness. They always think emotionally and expect the patient to be cured.

Physicians will advise the patient to be withheld the nutrition or fluids as they clearly know the situation. if there is a reaction to any medicines.

Conflict in situation and addressing it

Conflict is between the emotional decision by family members and practical decision by physician/health care manager.

The best way to address it is a discussion between the stakeholders considering the practical situation and the solution by considering the benefits vs burden.

Establish the options:

Principles driving each option –

Emotions are really important to decision making in situations like this. But, patient’s situation has to be considered carefully. Below are few comparisons of benefits and burden in withholding/providing the nutrition to the terminally ill patient –

Burden

Benefits

Choosing the most responsible option –

Providing more medication without any response will only create false hopes in the minds of the family members of patient and increase their financial and emotional burden. Also, the patient keeps suffering for no reason. Hence, the decision to withhold the nutrition or fluids to patient if he has hardly any chance of survival would be the most responsible option.

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