Techniques for Recruiting Employees

If I had to make the decision on what to do in Terri Schaivo’s case I would do what Michael Schiavo had done, I would fight to have the feeding tube removed. I believe that if a person has no quality of life and is in a PVS state, they have no feelings, they feel no pain, and they are not aware of their surroundings. According to the article Terri Schiavo and End-of-Life Decisions “Terri could not continue both to be alive and be free from invasive medical procedures” (Mathes, 2005) I feel keeping them alive is unfair to them and to their loved ones. I also believe that the surrogate decision maker should follow the “best interest” standard, which is, given the medical facts and prognosis, make decisions that would be in the best interests of the patient. (Hook & Mueller, 2005) There was a lot of evidence and proof from the doctors in regards to the fact that Terri was not going to get better, there were no medical interventions left that could help her. Prolonging treatment for Terri would not have changed her quality of life or made it better. In my opinion, Michael Schiavo acted properly as a surrogate decision maker because first of all, he followed her previously spoken wishes and views and, second of all, he acted in her

Nurses are healers by nature, and most nurses would by no means ever suggest ending a patient’s life. When a patient is expiring from a terminal, debilitating disease, he/ she may beg for a rapid and painless death. This concern will raise a very complicated moral dilemma for a nurse. This type of situation aids the nurse to second-guess the ethical traditions she has obtained in the nursing profession, leaving us with the uncertainty “what is a nurse’s role in assisted suicide?” (Kozier & Erb, 2010). In spite of this, assisted suicide should not be confused with ethically warranted end-of-life decisions and actions. The case was based on family and the physician’s individual beliefs. According to her husband, Michael Schiavo, Terri did not want to live life in a vegetative state. Her wishes needed to be heard, valued, and fulfilled. Possibly if the healthcare team offered education to the family then the individuals this could have kept their autonomy. Many times all it takes an explanation what the patient is going through and assisting the family with making the best ethical decision for their loved one. Nurses, play a major role in end-of-life care by advocating for patient’s needs and making certain that the quality symptom management and support at the end of life. In the case of Terri, the patient autonomy was taken from them and their wishes were not granted.

Her heart stopped suddenly and by the time she was resuscitated, she suffered irreversible brain damage. She was in a vegetative state which means that she was awake but without conscious and no sign of awareness. She was kept alive by costly medical treatments and care including tubes injected for food and water for years. The doctors said that there was no chance of significant improvement. The question that came up was if Terri wanted to be kept alive in these circumstances and if she would have chosen death instead of suffering this way for years and the years to come. Her husband wanted her to be let go while her parents wanted her to remain alive despite there being no chance of improvement. This is a clear example of the utilitarian theory that shows many parties involved. It is clear that everyone will suffer, but if we put ourselves in Terri’s shoes, she is the one suffering the most. In order to reach the most good out of the situation, it would be best if the doctors remove the feeding tube ending the financial and emotional strain. Though it will be tough for the family, the most good for the family is to know that Terri is no longer suffering. It was unfortunate that this situation happened in the public eye when the courts got involved. The judge did rule to remove her feeding tube, but is there a breaking a point of when the law should play in such a sensitive

The ethical principles for nurses to practice with beneficence and no maleficence. This legal battle between Terri Schiavo’s husband and her family was an ethical debate between continuing artificial life or remove her feeding tube by the request of her husband. Using the theories of utilitarianism and deontology can be applied or considered in making the most ethically correct resolution. The cases are very complex and raise many moral and ethical issues. The cases have brought awareness to society of “the importance of discussing end-of-life issues with family members and underscores how an advance directive, a living will and/or durable power of attorney for health care, are a healthcare proxy clarifies and provides evidence of the wishes of an individual regarding end-of-life decisions. Terri Schiavo should impress upon laypersons and professionals alike the uncertainty of the context in which issues of continuation and termination are argued ethically. Nobody knows what Mrs. Schiavo would have wanted. She left no advance directive and in its absence her husband says one thing and her parents

Without a living will Terri Schiavo, an individual who collapsed and was unable to communicate her final scenario of how she preferred to end her life or pursue an alternative given her circumstances, commenced a highly complex legal discussion within the U.S court system. Being incapable of conveying her end of life issues and neglecting to appoint a health care power of attorney proceeding her condition, Schiavo's family did not know what her wishes were. With conflicting notions from the medical, judicial, as well as personal dispositions, Schiavo's case and her life were in the hand of morally conflicted others (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2011, Jennings, 2010).

Case Study 2 Analysis of “The Schiavos” and “Fetal Testing for Down Syndrome” Terri Schiavo was a young woman who was in a persistent vegetative state (PSV) for nearly 13 years. Her husband fought to have her feeding tube removed to allow her to die naturally, but her family contested his fight, claiming that Terri was responsive, healthy and interactive. Although her autopsy results confirmed what her husband has been arguing, that she was blind, unable to communicate, or interact and without purposeful interaction, her family continued to contest that she was responsive, (Schiavo Autopsy). Terri’s case involved the application of passive, involuntary euthanasia by allowing her natural death after the cessation of her tube feedings. Evaluation

Research also suggest that only twenty-five percent of Americans have a living will but change their minds what it should say. There is only twenty-eight percent of home health care patients, sixty-five of nursing home patients, and eighty-eight percent of hospice patients have some sort of advanced care planning. (Jones 2011) Fewer than fifty percent of the terminally or severely ill patients have living wills or anything of that sort. (Kass-Bartelmes 2003) Those numbers are ridiculously

The article “When a Patient Discusses Assisted Dying: Nursing Practice Implication ,” discusses some of the ethical and legal issues regarding patients who are interested in assisted dying . The subject of assisted dying in the media, nationally and internationally, is argued on both sides. Britney Maynard was a patient with incurable brain cancer who blogged about how she moved to Oregon to receive the lethal prescription. The article discusses how patients feel mentally after receiving the news of their terminal illness and how it can lead to depression. Depression can compromise patients’ decision making, especially while being in a hospice setting. Also, patients’ choices can change as they near the end of their lives. Most patients would rather spend their last days at home where they can make their own

One’s body and life are one’s own to dispose as one sees fit. Everyone is entitled to the right to die concept, in that they can decline or accept life-sustaining treatments. However, this was a dispute in the case of Terri Schiavo where all three branches of government were involved to decide on whether they should keep her on life-prolonging measures or discontinue after she was left in a comatose state. After no sign of improvement for over two months, her diagnosis was changed to a persistent vegetative state leaving her life decisions in the hands of her husband, Michael. Michael argued that his wife would not have wanted the prolonged life support and even went as far as starting a petition to remove her feeding tube, which her parents

Our book provides this part of the Hippocratic oath: I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgement; I will keep them from harm and injustice” (Veatch, 2012) Since Terri’s medical professionals are acting under this oath it would be unethical for them to stop a treatment that they as Doctors know would keep her alive regardless of her quality of life. In the book, we are provided with a somatic definition of death, an individual dies when there is irreversible loss of the body’s capacity to carry on integrated functioning, usually the focus is on cessation of circulatory and respiratory function, but the body also carries on other compels, integrated functions have to do with complex processes as digestion, elimination reproduction and homeostasis. (Vteach, 2012 pg 32) According to this definition of death Terri is very much so considered alive, she is breathing on her own, requires no assistance for circulation and meets no criteria for being dead.

Take the case of Sabine, a 71 year old woman with mild ID and behavioral problems. She was regularly aggressive and had her own apartment in an assisted living center with daily supervision. Sabine was diagnosed with stomach cancer. An ethical conflict arose almost immediately because she had a deep fear of hospitals and mistrusted doctors. She refused to go to the hospital for any treatments, and though her relatives and caregivers tried to calm her fears and even offered medications to help he anxiety she continued to refuse. Ultimately, after they believed they had explained the seriousness of the situation to her the best they could, she was allowed to make her own decision. Sabine refused help, treatment, and even the medication offered to her. She succumbed to her illness at home. Her social worker struggled wish the decision stating, “You have to let go and accept that Sabine has her own say. . . . But it is always difficult to determine whether she is capable of making these decisions or

Case Number 2D01-1891: Patient’s parents make a motion for a temporary injunction to delay the termination of life support. They also file independent action against Mr. Schiavo alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Nancy Cruzan, and Terri Schiavo cases, that involved incompetent adults. The main concern here was whether there medical

This can be a difficult time not only for the patient but also for the loved ones and family. Sue Ellen, due to the fact that she was in a comatose state isn’t aware that she is possibly living in her final days of her life. During this stage health care professionals try to make the patient as comfortable as possible. The healthcare workers and physicians tried to make Sue Ellen as comfortable as possible. There are several myths about the end of life care that support good health care and good medical ethical practices. During this critical time, ethics, clinical judgement, and the law can run into major conflicts. The patient, families and physician can find themselves considering clinically actions that are ethically appropriate, but could possibly raise legal issues. In this particular case, Sue Ellen family and the healthcare facility are concerned. According to Meisel, Snyder, Quill (2000), “The 7 major legal myths regarding end-of-life-care are: (1) Forgoing life-sustaining treatment for patients without decision-making capacity requires evidence that this was the patients actual wish. Sue Ellen, did not have person that was a designated surrogate. This would play a major factor in my decision as a Health Administrator to have her moved from the AICU to a hospice facility for care. (2) Withholding or withdrawing of artificial fluids and nutrition from terminally ill or permanently unconscious patients is illegal. The only time

With major advancement in medical treatments, it is now possible to keep a patient alive, which would not have been possible in former times. This has made end of life issue one of the most controversial issues in healthcare. Medical improvements have set the stage for ethical and legal controversies about not only the patient’s rights but also the family’s rights and the medical profession’s proper role. It is critical that any decision made in such situation is ethical and legal to preserve the rights of the patient and also protect the healthcare institution involved. It is very important when making decisions to discontinue treatments to make sure all other alternatives have been explored.