Question

CASE STUDY: Mrs. Kathy is a 68 years old patient with a long history of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus who is admitted to the medical female unit with infected diabetic foot and progressive gangrenous tissue. After initiation assessment, her medical and surgical team have decided that it is time to amputate before septicemia develops and discussed this with the patient that if this condition left untreated may lead to critical complication and death. The treating team have tried to obtain an informed consent from the patient but she refused to sign and said” I don’t want to go for this surgery and I want to die as a whole person without any missing piece of my body”. The Surgeon got upset by the patient and called her son to come. When the son came over, he discussed the case with the surgeon the surgeon told him to sign the consent on behalf of his mother because she is irrational. The son talked with his mother trying to convince her to sign the consent for but she told him” It is my body son, I just don’t want this surgery of amputation and cannot imagine myself becoming dependent”, but her son in fear of his mother’s life agrees with the doctor and signs the consent. Questions to be ALL answered: 1. If the Surgeon and the patient’s Son were thinking in utilitarian (teleologic) terms, what could be the arguments to support their actions and statement? Identify three arguments with explanations. Argument 1___________________________________________________________ Argument 1___________________________________________________________ Argument 1___________________________________________________________

2. What ethical theories/principles might have guided the Son’s decision? Identify and discuss one main ethical principle and one main ethical theory. Ethical Principle: ______________________________________________________ Discussion: ___________________________________________________________ Ethical Theory: ________________________________________________________ Discussion: _________________________________________________ __________

3. In your view, did the Son make the right moral decision? Why? Answer: ________________________________________________________ Why: _________________________________________________________

4. If you disagree with the Son’s action, what would you have done and justify your action. Answer: ______________________________________________________________ Justification: __________________________________________________________

5. What is your opinion of the obtained informed consent? Justify your answer. Answer: ______________________________________________________________ Justification (legal and ethical): ___________________________________________

6. What do you think of her mental capacity? How did you reach to this conclusion? ( include measures you used to reach to your conclusion)

Answer 1

1.The argument which supports the utilitarianism are

• The medical and surgical team decision to do amputation in order to prevent septicemia (This decision can protect the patient from complications and death)
• The treating team (surgeon) trying to get informed consent in order to do the best for patient but patient refuses(The surgeon according to the principle of beneficence wants the patient to give consent to do the surgery)
• The son trying to convince mother and provides consent from his end (in order to save the life of his mother)

2.The utilitarian theory can havevguided the son to make decisions.Innthis theory an action is etforned in order to provide the most beneficial effect for other sometimes forcefully.Innsimple any action is permitted if it does a good thing or its consequences is goog.Here the don made a decision on behalf of his mother forcefully in order to prevent her from fatal complications and death.This can be because of the love abd affection of a son on his mother.

The principle of beneficence is followed by don . So that whatever the decision is made it can provide some better relief to his mother.

3.Morally his son's decision is considered to be right .This can be perceived as a son trying to save his mother's life at any cost.

4.In case of disagreement with son's action.It can be justified by using the principle of autonomy.The patient who is in sound mind and adult has the full right to accept or refuse a treatment.This is violated here ,hence giving no respect to the feeling of a patient and their decision.

5.The opinion about the informed cianebt is it is against a patient wish. The patient can sue the surgeon ,hospital in future for receiving a treatment against her will and consent. It can even break the harmony or relationship with the son more ethically by being dependent.

6.She is a mentally fit individual capable of making decision by self in reahrds to a surgery. This can be ensured by establishing a communication with the patient and her response to the refusal of surgery.