Ethics

Ethical Dilemma

Reginald Edwards

CJA324

February 21, 2013

Corinne Garrett

Ethical Dilemma

The ethical dilemma in the news chosen for this paper is the ethical dilemma by medical staff to end the life of kids in critical conditions. When does healthcare have access to legal right involving children whose parents resist aggressive therapy? Over a three year period of the many cases only a handful were unable to be resolved because of the parents, beliefs in miracles happening on rare occasions that it occurs, the families belief in religion and the interpretation of those religious teachings are significant factors in end-of-life conflict between parents and staff on pediatric intensive care units (Bankhead, 2012). While the children are being subjected to much pain and discomfort from multiple injections, ventilation machines, and suctioning many parents of these children faith is hindering medical staff to give proper advice to those parents.

During a three year review period, 290 deaths occurred in a Hospital pediatric intensive care unit. In 203 of the cases (Bankhead, 2012), the medical team for the hospital recommended ending or limiting invasive care as being in the best interest of the child, and many of the parents agreed with the decision in each case except for a few. A review of the few cases where the parents didn’t agree showed that the parents had a strong religious belief which influencing the family's response to the critical illness of their child (Harklute, 2011). Additional discussion about the best interest of the child led to a no resolution. In the remaining cases, it became an ethical dilemma between medical treatment and religious beliefs. The arguments on both sides are very clear in terms to medical personal the clear legal presumption for the maintenance of life if the patient was having somewhat of an improvement (Bankhead, 2012). With the religious view is that suffering is bringing the child closer to god. While most...