Ian is a 29-year-old male who sustained a major head injury in a car accident 7 years ago. He is in a long-term care facility. Ian cannot communicate in any way, requires total care, and is incontinent of urine and stool. He is likely in a persistent vegetative state, and his prognosis is thought by the team to be hopeless, He has a gastronomy tube and receives regular feedings.Ian’s parents believe that their son would not wish to be maintained in this way and have requested that the feeding tube be removed. They have made this request several times in past years. However, the hospital’s policy does not allow discontinuation of tubes. As tubes are replaced at regular intervals, Ian’s family is now asking that their son’s tube not be replaced in the event that it accidentally falls out.
Questions
1. What are your views on this hospital’s policy regarding withdrawal of treatment?
2. As a nurse, how would you support this family?
3. Do you agree with the family’s plan?
4. In this situation, what would be the legal requirements for organ donation in your home province?
5. What criteria does your hospital use for determining death?
1)As hospitals are the place where treatment is given to people so that they can live a healthy life there are several policies which protects the patients.
I would agree with hospital policy because in my opinion only the person who is suffering would have the right to decide whether they want to live or not.But the hospital will withdraw the medical treatment when there is damage to more than 3 organs where death is inevitable then only they will withdraw the Medical treatment with consent from family.
2)As a nurse my main job is to care and show compassion to patients and their family.I would understand their decision to withdrawal of tubes.But it does not mean they are not in pain and grief over their son so I would be compassionate and I would recommend them to join support groups so that they can be able to express their grief and move over it.
3)Yes in their perceptive they would know their son and how he wants to live so I would agree with the family by thinking in their place.
But I would agree with the hospital policy if I have the ability to choose because life is life whether they able to communicate or not.
Ian is a 29-year-old male who sustained a major head injury in a car accident 7...
Ian is a 29-year-old male who sustained a major head injury in a car accident 7 years ago. He is in a long-term care facility. Ian cannot communicate in any way, requires total care, and is incontinent of urine and stool. He is likely in a persistent vegetative state, and his prognosis is thought by the team to be hopeless, He has a gastronomy tube and receives regular feedings.Ian’s parents believe that their son would not wish to be maintained...
Ian is a 29-year-old male who sustained a major head injury in a car accident 7 years ago. He is in a long-term care facility. Ian cannot communicate in any way, requires total care, and is incontinent of urine and stool. He is likely in a persistent vegetative state, and his prognosis is thought by the team to be hopeless, He has a gastronomy tube and receives regular feedings. Ian’s parents believe that their son would not wish to be...
Ian is a 29-year-old male who sustained a major head injury in a car accident 7 years ago. He is in a long-term care facility. Ian cannot communicate in any way, requires total care, and is incontinent of urine and stool. He is likely in a persistent vegetative state, and his prognosis is thought by the team to be hopeless, He has a gastronomy tube and receives regular feedings. Ian’s parents believe that their son would not wish to be...