Question

Respond to case study 12A, and answer thediscussion questions at the bottom of the case study.

Case 12A Mrs. Johns is 92 years old. For her age, she is in relatively good health. She has a heart condition that is treated medically. Two years ago, she declined a surgical fix to her heart blockage, cit- ing concerns and risks about how surgery could affect her overall cont.

Answer 1

The major ethical implication is the limitation done on a life saving treatment on a healthy women though aged and almost lived her life.But its the rights of every human being to deserve the necessary care needed to prolong a quality life.Here she has been provided blood and and its products for a year to manage her disease condition.The thing which makes a concern is ,if blood transfused thrice ,it is 12 units a month and 144 a year and so on for its products.The ethical concern here is the Resource allocations. This huge number of units can save more than 100 lives a year approximately in place of a single patient.

The short supply can be balanced in the following way

• Creating awareness to donate blood
• Conducting health camps and blood camps
• Blood donation encouraged in the family member of the patient

The process of blood donation by the family,friends,relatives can be helpful at this stage.The patient cannbe taken for a check up and screening to assess whether her condition has improved over the past 1 year or declining and plan care accordingly.

The justice can address the conflicts by having concern on large number of patients suffering due to lack of blood .They may range from child to elders, instead of transfusing them ,the patient Mrs.John who has been transfused for a year with no progress will be limited for getting its benefits.The justice of equal distribution enforces this.It emphasizes the need to be fair and equal to all.