Week 2

Week 2 You Decide

As the chairman of the ethics committee, I would like to discuss all the conflicts involved in the case of Ms. Whitson. This case is about a 95 year old woman, Ms. Margie Whitson, who has been living in Golden Oaks Rehabilitation Center. Golden Oaks is located on the grounds of Marion General Hospital, owned and operated by the hospital board of directors. Ms. Margie has been suffering from severe cardiac problem and is depends completely upon electronic pacemaker after a massive heart attack. A hip fracture that occurred 10 years back has also made her physical movements difficult.

Unfortunately, Ms. Margie has been suffering from a series of emotional issues that have kept disturbing her for a decade. Five years ago, her husband Mr. Earl passed away at the age of 88. It was pleasant marriage that lasted 68 years. Their son, Jacob, had died in his early 30s and that has also stressed Me. Margie over the years. Her other son, William, spent three years in the same facility suffering from poor life conditions and cardiac problems. He passed a few days back after fighting with cardiac problems after the first stroke occurred 3 years back. Two more strokes followed and he finally left the world at the age of 73, while being in the same medical facility where Ms. Margie has been. This series of incidents has made Ms. Margie very hopeless and she feels completely alone now. To add to these, Ms. Margie is a believer and she hopes to meet her family in heaven.

Out of her poor physical state, emotional and social issues, she calls Nursing Home Administrator Ms. Cindy Mackin and expresses the desire of euthanasia. Ms. Cindy does not agree with her but manages an appointment between Ms. Margie and her physician Dr. Rana Vijay. Dr. Rana Vijay does not concede to her demand of euthanasia by deactivating the pacemaker. He says that the duty of medical staff is to give lives and not to take. Ms. Jane Robinson, a MSW Social Worker, takes Ms. Margie’s...