Question

As a nurse, what role do you have in the decision about "futile care"? What is your legal scope of practice? How would you react and respond as a nurse if a decision was made, either way, which you did not agree with? Or it was contrary to your beliefs about death and dying?

Answer 1

Futile care is referred to the continuous provision of medical care towards the patient who has no scope of recovery, and some proponents of evidences shows that it is beneficial to cease any continuous care and facility to such patient that shows no measurable benefit. As a nurse the decision regarding futile care is crucial. The nurse plays a mediating and conciliating role in decision making of futile care for the members of the multi-disciplinary team and family members of the patient. It is the role of the nurse to guide the team and family in making appropriate decision for the patient and console them for the better good.

Exploring the legal scope of nurse's practice in futile care case, the nurse is not the one to make the decision regarding discontinuation of care to the patient but the nurse has major role in evaluating the benefits of the care to the patient and in case of futile care being identified it is the role of the nurse to guide and inform the team for making appropriate decisions.

Being a nurse we have to take care of our own personal values being coinciding with the standards and ethics of medical care. In this case if the decision of futile care was made that was not as per my values and opposing my belief of death and dying, i would put forward my duty of care and with proper discussion and exploration of the case with other team members would agree with the decision rather creating any opposition. As performing in a team indicated proper communication and informed decision making, so i would work in order to explain the medical view of futile care to the family and put aside my own values and perform in best interest of patient and family.