Ethical Theories Involved in End-of-Life Care
Healthcare providers have to apply various theories in the process of overcoming the dilemma in end-of-life by trying to consider the patient’s preferences and perspective. To start with is the egoistic theory that caregivers overcome by ensuring that they are working for the good of the patient (Karnik & Kanekar, 2016). Additionally, family members should also put aside their self-interest and make judgments according to the decision that best suits the patient on either the appropriate treatment or end-of-life care. Therefore, caregivers need to provide the appropriate treatment prognosis making the patients have an autonomous choice and make the best that suits them with the help of the family member or individually which is an act of beneficence to the patient (Butt & Rich, 2019). Furthermore, the virtue theory of ethics applies when the act of caregiver is toward achieving the greatest benefit of the patient either individually or through the family. This is achieved by the caregiver providing information about the treatment to avoid any undue harm to the patient for instance if the case is of futile treatment (Karnik & Kanekar, 2016). Additionally, caregivers have to avoid inequity by ensuring that they consider the allocation of limited resources. For instance, a case where a lot of resources are utilized to purchase expensive treatment provided to the patient during the end-of-life situation which leads to leads to unequal distribution of limited technological and medical resources. Moreso, caregivers need to address the issue of unequal or unnecessary distribution of resources by both withholding and withdrawing the futile treatment.
Future Implications
Caregivers should take the initiative of making change by involving in a discussion with the patient about palliative care of the patient’s goal of end-of-life as their preferences. Patients have a different preference, for instance, some require comfort care while other targets cure thus requiring the caregivers to enquire and get the trustful information to hinder any instance of ethical crisis that may arise from the surrounding topic (Karnik & Kanekar, 2016). Additionally, there is a potential of changing the illness by seeking stability of health preference goals which is achieved through the renewal of each specific case and opting out the scenario-Voption. In order to facilitate improved decision making to patients, the caregivers need to provide proper communication, discussion, and education on the implication related to end-of-life to patients thus fulfilling the code of ethics (Fischer, 2015). Therefore, flexibility in both advanced directives and effective planning can be appraised due to its ability to accommodate evaluation and inadvertent scenario-based on preference change which assists in considering the patient’s autonomous choice (Roberts & Siegler, 2017).
Innovations and technological advancement as well are reforming treatment and the decision preferences surrounding end-of-life care. Additionally, technological advancement hinders the natural dying process by providing the capability of prolonging the life of a patient (Karnik & Kanekar, 2016). Therefore, the shared decision-making process on the end-of-life is determined based on patient-centered care which is achieved by the use of advanced treatment to sustain life. Furthermore, an increase in the number of patients seeking long term care is reported due to advanced technology and medical treatments. Finally, adopting a healthy lifestyle provide minimal cases of injuries, disease, and disability which lowers the rate of death and increases long term care in the later life of the patient.
Getting information and making plans of the end-of-life preference should be a mortal consideration to all patients patient (Karnik & Kanekar, 2016). Plans on making the cost of futile and expensive treatment cheap at the end of life should be underway thus promoting equality in healthcare for all patients. Therefore, patient autonomy ethical value should be given priority against futile and expensive treatment in circumstances that increase healthcare costs. Furthermore, a patient with the help of the family can consider futile treatments for comfort care options although they can lead to undignified and humiliating situations to patients with the emotional burden (Roberts & Siegler, 2017). In the case of futile treatment, it becomes difficult for patients seeking medical care in understanding the concept which requires that caregivers should provide detailed information that is beneficial to help in decision making.