Bioethics Discussion

Bioethics Unit 8 Initial Post

A person must be able recognize there is decision to be made, understand the information about the condition and the treatment options and understand the risks and/or benefits to be deemed able to make valid treatment decisions.

A goal of healthcare providers is to restore the person who lost the capacity to make decisions due to stroke, brain tumor or dementia, decision-making capacity. If they cannot, they rely on next of kin or a surrogate. The institution I work in allows for surrogates. Surrogate is a person, generally unrelated, who knows the patient well, knows his/her wishes and makes decisions for them. Decisions that the patient themselves would typically make.

If a next of kin or surrogate is not available, the physician and nurse staff caring for the patient should make decisions that they feel are in the “best interest” of the patient. This is difficult and I have been involved in only one of these processes. Physician, nursing staff and ethics council are usually involved as we assess the patient’s current and future quality of life. According to Kant, all human beings have dignity in virtue of their humanity. I feel that care ethics also plays a part in making decisions that are in the best interest of the patient, and not those who are caring for that individual (Steinbock, London, & Arras, 2013).

Reference

Steinbock, B., London, A.J., & Arras, J.D. (2013). Ethical issues in modern medicine: Contemporary readings in bioethics. (8th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.