Question

An adult patient is a member of a religion that does not believe in receiving blood. The patient receives a colostomy and begins hemorrhaging. He is unable to voice his objections to receiving blood. You know of this patient’s strong beliefs and that he does not want to receive blood. On the admission sheet, the area for religion is blank. He has no family. The nurses and doctors want to give blood, and you do not want him to die.

1. Do either Living Wills or Durable Power of Attorney apply in this case? Explain.
2. What should you do? Ethically support your viewpoint.
3. What are the legal and ethical implications if the patient is a minor and the parents refuse blood?
4. What are the ethical dilemmas and legal implications if he receives blood?

 

Answer 1

1 ) Yes the living will and power of attorny will apply in this case. In this case the patient is an adult and he has all the right to select his choices and mode of treatment he wants. The act of 1991 Patient self determination act will provide a legal support under law to find his destiny.

2) As a nurse.. in my view. In this case we have to explain the patient regarding the need of the blood transfusion in this present situation. With all respect to the religious belief we convey him regarding the importance. Blood transfusion is life saving procedure. Its has a very success rate and really life saving. Truly scientific method of life saving method. I will try my maximum to explain my patient about the importance with all possible respect to his religion.

Same situation as a nurse i will think of self transfusion is recommended alternative to allogenic blood.

3) If the patient is minor we have to take consent from the parents for blood transfusion. If the parents refusing blood transfusion we have to request a consent from the probate judge to authorise the transfusion.

In the same case if this is an life saving emergency all life saving treatment should be given to the child who is unable to give competent consent irrespective of the parents wishes.

4) If the patient receives blood then the health care team have to face legal implications because of denied fundamental right. There will have some criminal proceeding because of not having a consent for blood transfusion. Ethical delima happened in this situation but for a life saving thing. Its is not done for any benifit of the health professional and cant be say as a malpractice or negligence..