Running head: WORKPLACE DILEMMA
Workplace Dilemma
When working in the ICU there are many ethical issues and healthcare decisions made daily. The physicians work hard to bring a positive patient outcome as much as possible; however there are times when the outcomes are not as desirable. At this point, when a patient continues to deteriorate, the path of death can be short or long. There are times when a physician feels that further measures to attempt to save a life will only result in a negative outcome, such as death, vegetative state, and/or suffering.
In this particular incident, an elderly female patient, Ms. B. had severe respiratory and cardiac distress resulting in CPR and ventilator support. She had a nutritional deficit prior to admission that dated as far back as six months according to the family. She had lost her appetite and had lost about 20 pounds in the months leading up to her illness. The nutritional deficit was an important role in her end days.
Her course of treatment lasted over three weeks within the ICU, she would progress slightly only to deteriorate a couple of days later. This was a vicious cycle Ms. B. went through for these weeks. The physicians were honest with the family, telling them that a recovery was not possible, the family urged on. The family being of Catholic upbringing was not ready to make any decisions that would result in her demise. Their faith was solid throughout her illness, the priest visited and prayed with the patient and family daily.
The dilemma in the workplace was the difference in opinion of the nurses in comparison to the family's feelings and cultural feelings towards death. This patient had many bedsores on her bottom, heels, and even her arms. Her skin would tear ev ...