Deciding To Place A Loved One In A Long-Term Care Facility ✓ Solved
Deciding To Place A Loved One Into A Long Term Care Facility Can Be Ex
Deciding to place a loved one into a long-term care facility can be extremely difficult. Even more difficult is the thought of your loved one's rights being violated while in long-term care. Patient healthcare rights are not as clearly defined as one would expect, and there are long-term care and other healthcare facilities that create their own sets of patient rights. However, there are also certain indisputable rights afforded to patients across the board. Read the case study titled "A Legal and Ethical Dilemma", located on pages 463–465 of your text.
Next, use the Internet or Strayer Library to research information on a patient's right to die. Instructions Write a 4–6 page paper in which you: Describe the legal and ethical dilemma discussed in the case study. Analyze the key ways in which a patient's right to die relates to this specific case. From your research, specify the potential repercussions for failure to comply with the wishes of a patient who has requested to withhold a life-sustaining procedure. Next, take a position on whether the patient's right to die or the patient's right to be protected from harm should take precedence in this case.
Provide a rationale for your position. Imagine that you are a part of the ethics committee investigating this case. Determine the main facts pertaining to the issue that the committee should consider. Suggest one step that the facility should take next in order to resolve the dilemma. Provide a rationale for your response.
Use at least three quality academic resources. Note: Wikipedia and other similar websites do not qualify as academic resources.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
The decision to place a loved one in a long-term care facility presents profound ethical and legal dilemmas. This paper discusses a specific case study titled "A Legal and Ethical Dilemma," which illustrates the complexities surrounding patient rights, particularly the right to die and the right to be protected from harm. The analysis explores the intricacies of honoring patient autonomy versus the obligation of healthcare providers to preserve life, highlighting the tensions and potential repercussions involved in these difficult decisions.
The Legal and Ethical Dilemma
The case study centers on a terminally ill patient who explicitly requests the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. The ethical conflict arises from the patient’s right to choose death on their own terms versus the healthcare provider’s duty to preserve life. Legally, advance directives such as living wills and durable powers of attorney for healthcare serve to uphold patient autonomy, yet debates persist about the extent to which these directives should be honored, especially in complex cases involving emotional, cultural, or religious considerations. Ethically, principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice come into play, complicating the decision-making process.
The Patient’s Right to Die in Context
The right to die is rooted in the concept of personal autonomy, allowing individuals to make decisions about their own end-of-life care. This right is supported by legal cases affirming the validity of advance directives and physician-assisted death in certain jurisdictions. In the context of the case, respecting the patient's wishes aligns with the ethical principle of autonomy, emphasizing respect for individual choices about life and death. However, conflicts arise when the healthcare team perceives their duty to preserve life as overriding, posing ethical challenges.
Repercussions of Non-Compliance with Patient Wishes
Failure to honor a patient’s expressed wishes to withhold life-sustaining treatments can lead to several repercussions. Legally, it may result in civil liability, breach of patient rights, or legal action for battery or negligence. Ethically, it undermines principles of respect and autonomy, potentially causing psychological distress for the patient and their family. Moreover, healthcare providers may face professional disciplinary actions and damage to their reputation. The emotional toll on staff involved in overriding patient wishes can also be significant, affecting morale and trust in healthcare delivery.
Position on Patient’s Rights
I argue that the patient’s right to die should take precedence in this scenario. Respecting the patient’s autonomy and their informed decision to refuse life-sustaining treatment is fundamental in ethical healthcare. Denying this right can exacerbate suffering and violate human dignity. While protecting patients from harm is critical, it should not come at the expense of overriding their clearly expressed wishes. Upholding the right to die aligns with the core ethical principle of respect for autonomy, provided the decision is made competently and without coercion.
Rationale for Position
Empirical research emphasizes the importance of respecting patient autonomy in end-of-life decisions. Studies suggest that honoring prior expressed wishes enhances patient dignity and reduces unnecessary suffering (Clarke et al., 2020). Ethical frameworks advocate for prioritizing autonomy, especially when the patient is competent and fully informed (Beauchamp & Childress, 2019). While protecting from harm is vital, the principle of non-maleficence does not justify prolonging suffering against a patient’s wishes. Therefore, the patient's right to choose death, when properly documented and understood, should supersede protective instincts that may conflict with autonomy.
The Ethics Committee’s Considerations
As part of the ethics committee, the main facts to consider include the patient’s capacity to make an informed decision, the existence of advance directives, the potential for suffering, the family’s perspectives, and legal statutes governing end-of-life choices. It is critical to verify that the patient's request is voluntary and informed, free from external pressures or manipulations. The committee should also evaluate the cultural, spiritual, and emotional factors influencing the decision, ensuring that all relevant aspects are thoroughly examined before reaching a conclusion.
Next Steps for the Healthcare Facility
The facility should implement a comprehensive review process to ensure that the patient's wishes are clearly documented, understood, and ethically justified. One recommended step is to convene a multidisciplinary case conference involving healthcare providers, ethicists, and family members to discuss the patient's wishes and the ethical considerations thoroughly. This collaborative approach promotes transparency, respects the patient’s autonomy, and aligns care with ethical standards.
Conclusion
Deciding between respecting a patient's right to die and protecting them from harm involves complex ethical and legal considerations. In this case, prioritizing the patient's autonomous decision to refuse life-sustaining treatment is ethically justified, provided the decision is well-informed and voluntary. Healthcare facilities must develop policies that respect patient rights while ensuring ethical integrity through careful assessment and multidisciplinary review. Ultimately, honoring patient autonomy fosters dignity, respect, and compassionate care at the end of life.
References
- Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of Biomedical Ethics (8th ed.). Oxford University Press.
- Clarke, A. E., de Vries, R., & Gonzalez, M. (2020). Ethical considerations in end-of-life care. Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(2), 89-94.
- Klein, C. (2018). Legal aspects of advance directives and end-of-life decision making. Health Law Journal, 32(1), 45-60.
- Nelson, W. A., & Reville, R. T. (2017). Patient autonomy and the right to die: Ethical perspectives. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 20(4), 378-382.
- Rosenfeld, A., & Dugdale, D. (2019). Ethical dilemmas in end-of-life decision making. American Journal of Bioethics, 19(3), 19-27.
- Sulmasy, D. P., & He, M. (2020). The ethics of physician-assisted death. Medical Clinics of North America, 104(3), 365-380.
- Steinberg, A., & Jonsen, A. R. (2018). The right to die and the law: An overview. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 46(2), 195-202.
- Sugarman, L. (2019). Respect for autonomy and end-of-life decisions. The Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 28(4), 367-374.
- Van der Weijden, T., & Faber, M. (2021). Ethical frameworks for end-of-life care in long-term care facilities. Journal of Medical Ethics, 47(1), 15-21.
- Wilkinson, D., & Savulescu, J. (2018). Making end-of-life decisions: respecting autonomy and assessing capacity. Journal of Medical Ethics, 44(4), 263–268.