ethical dilemma

ethical dilemma

Nursing practice utilizes ethics on a daily basis. Nursing ethics “directly relate to and affect nurses and their patients” (Butts & Rich, 2008, p. 52). However, in order to practice nursing ethically requires that nurses first recognize ethical problems and probable conflicts and then display a moral sensitivity in all nurse-patient communications and interventions in their day-to-day work (Butts & Rich, 2008, p. 52).
Ethical Dilemma
In Hoffman’s article, “The Last Word on the Last Breath”, it describes a 35 year old patient who has been in a “persistent vegetative state for 15 years” (Hoffman, 2006), and while his kidneys were failing, he was losing weight, and was in cardiac arrest. However, although the patient was dying, the family believed his capability of communicating and insisted that “revival efforts be made” (Hoffman, 2006). As a result, the doctor performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, chest compressions, intubation, and used electric paddles to save his life.   Despite all efforts made, unfortunately, after 15 minutes of CPR, “doctors called the time of death.”
The ethical dilemma presented in the article poses the concept of “who has the final say over whether CPR should be attempted on a gravely ill patient” (Hoffman, 2006). As the doctor comments, “Why couldn’t we have let the patient die in peace?” (Hoffman, 2006).  
Medical indications
In all cases, the medical indications “include the clinical facts necessary to diagnose the extent and seriousness” (Jonsen, Siegler, & Winslade, 2006, p. 5) of the presented problem, “to make a prognosis for survival or restoration of function, and to determine the options of treatment” (Jonsen et al., p.5).   In this patient’s case, his vegetative state, failed kidneys, lose of body weight, and cardiac arrest presented an emergent and critical problem, especially since they were irreversible. As far as treatment, the CPR performed was aimed at saving the patient’s life in request from the patient’s...