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End Of Life Care Ethics

554 Words3 Pages

After analyzing literature and conflicting perspectives on the controversial issue regarding nutrition and end of life care, I can conclude that there is much to consider when deciding to either initiate or withdraw nutritional supports. However, study results indicate that there are minimal benefits, if any, to providing nutrition during the terminal phase of illness (van der Riet et al., 2008). The patient’s decision regarding their care trumps decisions made by any individual or health care team. The patient’s wishes must be respected, despite possible conflicting personal values. If patients are unable to advocate for themselves, I believe the benefits of providing nutrition must be weighed against the risks. During the palliative stage of illness, pursuing full comfort measures is of greatest importance while providing care …show more content…

Providing nutrition, as it may seem to be the ‘right thing to do’, can lead to inadvertently prolonging the dying process (Krishna, 2011). If there is a chance that the patient may recover, I believe nutritional support should be pursued with informed consent of the patient. Informed consent is the patient’s approval of an intervention with knowledge of the possible associated risks and benefits; it is based on the patient’s right to self-determination and moral principle of autonomy (Pollard, 2014). However, if recovery from the illness is not an option and the illness itself is causing the patient grief, I do not agree with providing nutritional support, as there is more evidence supporting that it causes more harm than good. Evidence supports that dying patients experience a dry mouth at times, which is easily corrected with providing good mouth care, but do not experience hunger (van der Riet et al.,

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These opponents believed that removing this feeding tube would be “morally wrong.” They saw this as opening the door to killing people who are of “no use.” The author added few people take advantage of the options the case made available to them: only 10 percent have living wills to reflect their wishes regarding end-of-life care, should they become incapacitated

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The rights of Englishmen are basic legal claims established over time, that all subjects of the English Monarch were understood to have. They included the right to trial by jury, security from unlawful entry into one’s home, and no taxation without consent. Before the American colonies became independent from Great Britain, they were subjects of the British monarchy. The American colonies had the rights of englishmen because they were under the British rule of the monarchy. The American colonies enjoyed their rights of Englishmen as subjects of the king or queen.

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Dominican University Ethical Considerations in End-of-Life Care: The Role of Advanced Directives. Tanya De La Riva THEO 368 02 Dr. Rachel Hart Winter April 17, 2024 End-of-life care plunges deep into ethical questions of the autonomy and consent issues around informed decision-making by the patient regarding his or her own medical treatment. Advanced directives (ADs) are important tools that help in respecting the autonomy of the patient and ensure that end-of-life care is implemented in the spirit of the patient's will. This paper discusses advanced directives in healthcare, highlighting the ethical balance that ADs bring forth between patient and practitioner autonomy. Advanced directives are instruments that enable a person

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It is nearly impossible for the patient to rely on another person to make the best decision that they would have made for themselves, particularly when it involves personal interests such as profiting from a will. If there is something to gain, the family members’ motives seem questionable. If the patient falls ill, then there lies a possibility that their heirs will hope for the patient’s death so that they could receive their inheritance. The inability to confirm whether the family actually has the patient’s best interest in mind supports the argument that any form of euthanasia is unethical. Moreover, health care costs for terminally ill patients, including nursing homes, prescription drugs, and home health care deserves consideration.

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We now have good home and hospital palliative care programs, effectively able to eliminate or greatly reduce pain and suffering. Making good use of those medical skills is the hospice program, now helping more than a million persons each year receive sensitive care in dying. Although Callahan presents a good case in detailing these alternatives, he is wrong in the assumption that pain and suffering should be endured by providing terminally ill patients with medication to ease the pain. A person can be in so much pain but may not seek medication which is a short term alternation.

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When a terminally ill patient undergoes long and grueling unsuccessful treatments, the patient may lose a sense of hope for living and accept their death. Then they may go on to wanting control over their death and leading a patient to pursue PAS. Terminally ill patients are usually weak, tired, and uncomfortable. These are some of the main factors that qualify a patient for PAS because they interfere and prevent the patient from having a good quality of life. In addition, a patient may request PAS to lessen the financial burden of unnecessary medical procedures.

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Furthermore, it can ensure when the patient is unable to make any medical decision. This is a common agreement between the medical choices and decisions. Through discussion and understanding, pre-determined treatment intent at the time of death and other options for dying care and appoint "caregivers" in the patient In the event of a loss of self-determination, the "caregiver" may represent his wishes and ensure that the will is committed. This will not only enhance the mutual trust and understanding of patients, family members and health care workers. On the other hand, it will also avoid the difficulties and pressures of family members in the face of illness and death, and reduce the chance of making a decision to feel contradictory and guilty.

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Making end of life decisions concerning treatment is never easy for the family of the dying patient. When educating loved one about the end of life care and treatment the healthcare provider must considered the cultural and spiritual prospective of the family. Futile treatment is describe by the author as “treatment which provides no chance of meaningful prolongation of survival or may only briefly delay the inevitable death of the patient”. The health care providers at time are stigmatized by the family members are even seen as a doctors who doesn’t care when face. When my sister in-law went into the ICU and her oncologist told the family not to considered any form of life supporting method, they were very reluctant ,and would like her to

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This is simply not true. Palliative care, also known as comfort care, can be given in conjunction with curative or restorative treatments. Even better, it can be given at any stage of an illness or disease. While palliative care may not be designed to address the underlying cause, it still has been shown to have a dramatic impact on improving a person 's overall condition and extending their life.

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As Betty 's Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has progressed to stage 5, she is mainly concerned about the progressive symptoms she has been experiencing and the emotional wellbeing of Alan and her family not being able to cope when she passes away. Betty was described as "not clinically depressed" and is completely aware of her diagnosis. At this advanced stage of kidney disease, the kidneys have lost their function to remove waste and fluids from the body, toxin build up and regulating blood pressure (stage 5 of chronic kidney disease, 2016). In addition, Betty has been concerned about her hypertension, odeomeous legs, dyspnoea (shortness of breath), pruritus (itching), nausea and lethargy.

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Annotated Bibliography Jerika McNealy HCA 322 Instructor Linda Hoppe June 18, 2015 Gupta, D. (2015). Origin, Maintenance and Future of Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR). Indian Journal Of Palliative Care, 21(1), 8-9. doi:10.4103/0973-1075.150150 This source provides a brief description of how do-not-resuscitate came about, how it is maintained in the health care industry, and also its future in this industry.

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541 Words | 3 Pages

Hospice and palliative care can be easily intertwined; they are both concerned with promoting comfort and relieving patient pain. Hospice and palliative care, however, are different in some aspects. Patients who receive hospice care are nearing the end of their lives and there is no effort to cure their disease; the goal is to provide pain relief, a sense of belonging from family and friends if desired, support through the dying stages, and to assure that the person is able to die with dignity. Palliative care is also focused on reducing discomfort; however, the patient receiving care can be at any stage in their disease. Additionally, palliative care can also be administered during a time when a patient is receiving treatment to cure their illness.

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951 Words | 4 Pages

' Practitioner can play a role in improving the quality of life of a terminally-ill patient in both pharmacological aspects and non-pharmacological aspects. After all, what remains in a patient 's mind is the care and love given by practitioner, not the medical information. Something as simple as a warm-hearted pat on the shoulder or a word of assurance can enlighten their day. If we can treat every patient wholeheartedly, as if he/ she is our friend, it makes significant difference in patient life. Conclusion Hepler & Strand define pharmaceutical care as the responsible provision of medicine therapy for the purpose of improving a patient

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1497 Words | 6 Pages

One should do what is best at the patient’s request for humane, quick and painless dimes.” The above statement said by Dr. Jack is very true, as keeping people alive who are starving to death is inhumane. And what is the necessity to keep them alive against their wish though they had tolerated it since long and no improvements are resulted. The person suffering from this condition and his family members both have to suffer. Even their family members would wish that he might be relieved from this pain as they also cannot see their beloved ones suffering.

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the theory is patient-specific because of the patient’s diagnoses and the limited verbal communication. The theory assumptions are helpful with this patient as the nurses make it a priority to interpret cues which reflect his end of life experience and giving prompt intervention to maintain peaceful experience even at his dying moment. The theory was developed be used with terminally ill adult patients and their families/significant others. The theory is not applicable in its totality with non-hospice or palliative care patients. The goal of the end of life care is not to optimize care rather is to provide comfort measures, dignity and peaceful end of life experience.

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