Question

Imagine you are a pediatric nurse. You have been providing care for an infant with failure to thrive and a congenital heart defect. The infant will require multiple types of home medical monitoring equipment and a very expensive surgery to save his life. As the child grows, he will need continued follow up care and smaller palliative surgeries to ensure his health. The family comes from a strict Amish community in which the elders of the community make all final medical decisions. The parents want the medical team to save their baby, however they declined treatment because the Amish elders have decided that the community cannot endure the continued cost associated with prolonged medical care. It is your job to discharge the family home, knowing the child will die at home.

1. What ethical issue is represented in this case study?

2. How does Amish culture shape the parents views of death and dying? Cite at least one outside source you utilized to help you understand Amish culture.

Answer 1

1.The main ethical issue here is taking decision in the child's treatment. The parents wish and willingness to save the child (ethical) and the Amish elder decision of not being able to afford for treatment when the child grows (unethical )The major concern here is the family has to be discharged, knowing the child will die at home by a paediatric nurse.

2.In Amish culture the death and dying is viewed as the physical structure (body) life has come to an end on the earth and then the soul innthe afterlife will reach the God.They tend to keep the body simply dressing in white after embalming and coffin boxes made simple .If the dead person is single the pallbearers are single if married then the pallbearers shoukd be married.They don't preserve the body unless said by government for any legal issues .the body is buried after death.They grieve has other people does,wearing a black gown depending upon the relationship and duration of connection with the lost one.The parents view this that their child has reached the almighty again in their afterlife.