When the patient is unable to make decisions
When the patient is unable to make decisions, and there is no advance directive, the hospital ought to consult the family members or a legal guardian to provide a guideline on behalf of the patient. As stipulated in the principle of ethics, the family of the patient should get involved in the decision-making process of patients and selection of treatment options (Shi & Singh, p.515). They should offer their suggestions on the best action to take, depending on what the patient would want. However, the medical team’s advice should also be heeded. The patient’s health history is an essential element that should be discussed too, and the patient’s interaction with the doctors should help in determining the correct measure to take. Physicians and caregivers are moral agents, and their responsibility to the patient should precede everything else (Shi & Singh, p. 517). The ethics committee, which is obligated to solve medical ethics issues, should also get involved to ensure the decision made for the patient is the best.
Discussion 2
There should be particular ways of handling end of life treatment to ensure the patient’s decisions are respected as well as the protection of their dignity. Preventing needless pain both to the patient and family should be the primary focus of end-of-life treatment. Health professionals are obligated to take action that is in the best interest of the patient. However, the lack of a distinctive way of handling the matter can often lead to disagreements. For instance, the case of Theresa Cchiavo, a patient in Florida whose story hit the headlines in 2004 over disputes by the family, legal, and medical experts in withdrawing life support means (Shi & Singh, p.516). The bill of rights should always be put into consideration when handling end-of-life treatment. The patient self-determination act of 1990 implies the patient has the right “to make decisions concerning their medical care and also formulate advance directives” (Shi & Singh, p.516). The ethics committee should also have guidelines and rules to be adhered to when dealing with end-of-life treatment. Such particular guidelines on handling the matter minimize conflicts that are likely to arise in their absence.
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