Question

This is a graded discussion: 100 points possible due Jun 23 M7D1: End of Life Care Note: You cannot post to this discussion until week 7. PK, a competent, middle-aged woman diagnosed with a terminal illness feels that she cannot go on. The patient, recelving hospice care lives in her home with her spouse and one adult child. For the last couple of weeks, she has been talking to the community based hospice RN about the demands she is putting on her family, her physical suffering, and the mental stress on all of them. Now PK indicates she is considering ending it all. She asks the RN to help hasten her death. Consider the HPNA Position Statements to assist with this assignment. Initial Discussion Post: l Consider the legal and ethical implications of this situation, a potential request for euthanasia and/or assisted suicide by: 1. Identifying the RN's legal responsibilities in such a situation. 2. Identifying how the RN can best interact with this patient and meet their legal responsibilities. 3 Identifying whom the RN would discuss this with, to develop a team intervention plan. Responses to Peers: 1. Conslder and discuss the impact of state laws r/t physician-assisted death/physician-assisted suicide coutd play in this case. 2 Concide and discusevour snecifistate laws and diccuse beLALthe PAwLoffecthvebact in such ho ** 4+ 44 % $ 4 & 6 7 ***

Answer 1

1. The RNs legal responsibility in this situation is to communicate the need of the patient to the physician and then her relatives and take decision on the same .

2.The RN can best interact with the patient by encouraging the patient to express her concerns about ending the suffering she is having currently .And then communicate the patients need to the physician and patients relatives and checking the legal aspects of euthanasia or assisted suicide in the state .

3. The RN should first discuss it with the treating physician , with the relatives , and with the other health care staffs to prepare the intervention plan for the patient .