For this week, respond to one or more of the ethical issues/case studies presented on pages XXXXXXXXXXof your textbook. The word requirements are the same as always: 200 for the initial post, 100 for the responses
An understanding of the principles that underlie biomedical ethics is important in addressing the issues that confront health care practitioners and their patients at the end of life. The ethical principles include autonomy (the patient’s right to self-determination), beneficence (acting in the patient’s best interest), nonmaleficence (do no harm), justice (determine what is fair and just), and fidelity (truthfulness and faithfulness).Discussion Questions29. Assume you are an emergency medical technician (EMT) responding to a 911 call at a grocery store. An elderly shopper has collapsed, and she is unconscious on the floor when you arrive. Her vital signs are weak. The woman is placed in the ambulance, where she arrests. You notice that the woman is wearing a bracelet that says “DNR,” and a quick check of her purse reveals a signed and witnessed DNR order. What do you do?30. An 80-year-old woman has suffered a massive heart attack and is on a ventilator in the hospital’s inten-sive care unit. She apparently has no advance directive. Her three daughters arrive from different areas of the United States and express their opinions about their mother’s medical care. One daughter says her mother would “not want to be kept alive” in her present state, while a second, more aggressive daughter demands that “everything” be done to keep her mother alive. The third daughter expresses no opinion. In your opinion, what should be done?
Reply 1
There is a lot to consider before deciding to donate a kidney. Kidneys are important organs; they remove wastes and extra fluid from your body. They release blood pressure controlling hormones and they assist in making red blood cells and vitamin D. You should consider your overall health and if you have conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes. According to the National Kidney Foundation, there will be scars from the donor operation and long-term risks such as pain, nerve damage, hernia, or intestinal obstruction. People with one kidney may be at a greater risk of high blood pressure, proteinuria, and reduced kidney function. Some branches of the military, police, and fire departments will not accept individuals with one kidney. If you are already in military service, certain career options may not be available.
You should also consider the finances and time off required from work for the operation and recovery. Most living kidney donors will be in the hospital for one to two days after their surgery, although at some sites, donors may be in the hospital for up to four to six days. Most donors who work in an office setting can return to work within two to three weeks of their surgery, while donors with more physically demanding professions need up to six weeks for recovery.
Donors should also consider their mental health and seek out their social workers for guidance and support during emotional times. You should consider your partner and children when making the decision to donate and ask yourself how it will affect them and get their input.
Reply 2As a health care professional, putting your patients' needs above all else is essential. However, there is an internal issue when ethics and legalities do not seem to align. For example, some states require medical practitioners like EMTs and other first responders to cater to the wishes of the patient regarding their medical treatment even if said treatment is refused. There are other states that allow first responders to do as they see fit regarding the needs of the patient and the given circumstance. In the prompt, there is an EMT in a state that allows them to act in the patient’s best interest. So while the patient might request a certain hospital, in this situation the EMT is free to use their professional judgment and take them to the better suited hospital. In a state that prioritizes the patient’s desires above the professional decisions of the EMT, the EMT is required by law to take them to the patient’s preferred hospital. This is unfortunately a very simple question. While you might feel ethically compelled to convince every patient to listen and receive a certain treatment or go to a certain medical facility, you are limited by the laws in place in the state that you work. It is perfectly acceptable to make the patient aware of the implications of their decisions, but in a state that prioritizes the patient having the last word, there are limits to your influence.