Medical Code of Ethics on Patient’s Decisions
Name
Institution
Medical Code of Ethics on Patient’s Decisions
Client’s Daughter: My mother does not know what she is saying. We have to do everything to save her. She has to have the chemotherapy Nurse.
Response
“As a registered nurse, I am obligated to respect patients’ choices, especially adults who can know what is best for them. It will be unethical for me to carry out your request without your mother’s consent as she has the right to be a part of any decision involving her and the type of treatment she is receiving. So I would advise you to talk to her first to make her understand your reasons. If she accepts to continue with the chemotherapy, then as the hospital, we shall do that, but if she is still adamant and feels like she cannot take it anymore, there is nothing we can do. Your mother is of sound mind, and she is conscious, so the decision is hers if it was the other way around then we could have considered your wish as her next of kin.”
As a medical professional, I am obligated to offer the best care for the patient and, on the other hand, also ensure that whatever I do is in accordance with their rights. The professional code of ethics demands that the patients be involved in every decision concerning their health or procedures for their treatments (Hunt et al., 2019). It is unethical to make decisions about a patient’s health and alternatives to treatment without their consent (Villafranca, 2019). As long as the patient is alive and of sound mind, their decision should be respected no matter the impact. In this case, the client is of sound mind, and she feels like the treatment procedure is too much for her, it should be stopped, which the hospital is supposed to do.
In conclusion, medical decisions are vital and should not be taken lightly as it might cause the life of the patient or have the patient sue the hospital for not considering her request. The situation that can warrant someone else to decide for the patient is in instances where the patient is unconscious or mentally ill. No matter the impact that the wish of the patient is concerning their treatment, it should be respected as it is their right.
Reference
Hunt, M., Clarke, S., & Lencucha, R. (2019). When a patient’s choices entail risks for others: third-party risks, relational ethics, and responsibilities of rehabilitation professionals. Disability and rehabilitation, 1-7. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09638288.2019.1637950
Villafranca, A. (2019). The role of authentic choices in medical consent. Retrieved from https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/jspui_org/bitstream/1993/34518/5/Villafranca_Alexander.pdf