Explore this Free Case Study on advance care planning and ethical decision-making in healthcare to understand patient autonomy, substitute decision-making, and harmonised care practices in real clinical contexts. Get expert Assignment Help for Nursing Ethics, Health Law, and Advanced Care Planning coursework from experienced academic writers.
Main Body
Treatment
An advance care directive is a kind of document that contains a person's wishes regarding medical care if the individual is not able to make decisions due to its serious illness (Detering et al, 2021)
Victoria is a dementia patient who is in advance care directives instructing not to use cardiopulmonary resuscitation in case of a heart attack, no hydration, no ventilation and no antibiotics. Victoria was diagnosed with a chest infection; as a result doctor advised intravenous hydration as well as antibiotics for treatment.
If Victoria has decision-making capacity, then the current interest should be taken into account with the aid of a healthcare professional. On the other hand, if she lost decision-making capacity, then Bob, as a substitute deny hydration and antibiotics to uphold Victoria`s life. In this, priority is given to advance care directives. The reason for the denial is the lack of consent of Victoria regarding this consent, which she already presented in advance care directives.
Factors Considered
In the given context, family needs must be considered while making the decision. It is considered that after the lack of capacity of the patient, family members have to make a decision in significant decision.
Summary
Encourage patient autonomy via a case-based approach to ethical decisions.
Autonomy refers to a person`s right to make decisions for self. Advance care encourages autonomy and provides the right to control decision-making. When a person becomes ineffectual, advance care directives extend autonomy. According to this, Victoria is diagnosed with a chest infection, but she is in a state of mind; therefore, she retains the power of decision-making a result can decide whether to treat or not. On the other hand, if she is not in a state of decision-making, then priority is given to advance care directives.
Support harmony between the substitute decision maker and individuals.
According to this, it is essential that substitute decision-makers remain prepared for their role to make better decisions (Ethics in advance care planning, 2024). In the scenario, Bob would be required to make e consent or deny hydration and antibiotics treatment to uphold Victoria`s life. Within the scenario, it would have been better if Victoria and Bob had discussed this, as Victoria still had capacity.
Encourage supported decision-making
Healthcare teams can enhance the autonomy of patients through supporting decision-making. It refers to furnishing support to an individual who is not able to decide on their own. In the scenario, the healthcare team or professionals to support the decision-making carefully explain several options to Victoria and Bob and make an attempt to involve Victoria in the decision, if she has decision-making capacity.
Endorse a harmonised care environment.
It means that for advanced care planning, it is important to consult with the healthcare professional team and others in decision-making for the future because parties must coordinate to make the right decision. Also, one must harmonise with the multidisciplinary team as they have better knowledge and understanding of advanced care planning. In Victoria`s case, it would also be crucial that emergency medical treating staff, healthcare professionals, as well as Bob, act in a coordinated and harmonised manner to make the right decision, which is beneficial for Victoria and her life.
