When it comes to medical examinations, the rules for examining children and women are always discussed, as they are a vulnerable group. In the case study, the woman should be examined individually, unaccompanied by her husband or child. It is based on the principles of privacy and confidentiality. Due to the fact that patient has late-stage cancer the specifics of life-threatening examinations should be considered.
Medical wills allows a provider to determine a solution for serious health problems. These wills allow the organization to avoid unintentional errors and to be honest with patients’ relatives (Akdeniz et al., 2021). In the example of a woman with advanced-stage cancer who went into cardiac arrest, I would ask family members if the patient had a will regarding her medical decisions after her condition stabilized. Without a will, the organization must make decisions based on healthcare recommendations before the family decides to care for the patient (Pettersson et al., 2020). If the cardiac arrest is irreversible and the patient is on mechanical ventilation, the family must execute a power of attorney for subsequent decisions. A power of attorney helps address the emerging issues associated with not resuscitating the patient in the event of a second cardiac arrest (Wiesen et al., 2021). A power of attorney helps develop a possible hospice care plan that specifies the type of medications and procedures that should be available. In the case study, care would focus on life support, prevention of complications, and regular oxygen treatments.
The ethical consideration applied to the case study is the brain’s functionality. If the patient is brain dead, physicians should notify the family and wait for a decision on the duration of the ventilator. Prolonged maintenance on the machine can minimize the effects of family grief while they try to understand the death (Nelson & Lewis, 2017). However, immediate awareness will reduce the family’s financial risks in keeping the person on a ventilator.
It is recommended to clarify the availability of legal documents that direct the family and physician when a life-threatening event occurs in the maintenance. In the example given, it is necessary to establish ways of solving when it is impossible to maintain a heartbeat, and there is irreversible brain damage. On the part of the medical organization, it is necessary to observe the legal order in such cases and take into account the ethical aspects of palliative care.
References
Akdeniz, M., Yardımcı, B., & Kavukcu, E. (2021). Ethical considerations at end-of-life Care. SAGE Open Medicine, 9(9), 205031212110009. Web.
Nelson, A., & Lewis, A. (2017). Determining brain death: Basic approach and controversial issues. American Journal of Critical Care, 26(6), 496–500. Web.
Pettersson, M., Hedström, M., & Höglund, A. T. (2020). The ethics of DNR-decisions in oncology and hematology care: A qualitative study. BMC Medical Ethics, 21(1). Web.
Wiesen, J., Donatelli, C., Smith, M. L., Hyle, L., & Mireles-Cabodevila, E. (2021). Medical, ethical, and legal aspects of end-of-life dilemmas in the intensive care unit. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 88(9), 516–527. Web.