Question

Walter is a resident in the same nursing home with Elva. He is a 78-year-old widower who has been taking antidepressants since the sudden death of his wife 5 years ago. He, too, is visited often by his daughter. The staff of the nursing home inadvertently threw out his dentures with the sheets while making his bed. He had a habit of leaving them on the bed, and although the staff usually noticed them, a new employee failed to do so. Since then, Walter has adamantly refused to have his teeth replaced. The nursing home administration is more than willing to fit him with a new set of dentures and to pay all costs. His daughter is very much in agreement with the administration that he should have his teeth replaced. They are all aware that his nutrition is suffering, as is his ability to be understood when he tries to talk.

1. Should Walter be allowed to continue without his dentures?
2. What principles and other considerations of ethics should you, as a nursing home administrator, bring to bear on your decision on how to proceed in this situation?
3. What should you do? Use your understanding of the different ethical principles to add to the depth of your ethical thought and proposed action.

Answer 1

Walter should be allowed to continue without dentures is allow because it is a patient ethics to maintain their own good.

Principle of autonomy , principle of beneficence, principle of non maleficence .these principle explains that autonomy have patients right to make their own decision.

In beneficence helps patients advance their own good and nonmaleficence does no harm to patients these principles give protection to the patient . So based on these principles and nurse to maintain their autonomy .

Nurse administrator decision,

* Recognize there is an issue in this situation.

* The problem is patient doesn't need to have dentures so involved person is patient.

* according to the principle of autonomy and self determination. To allow the patient with their opinion. But in this case patient have depression. So trying to explain the use of dentures and if possible take consent from the family to ensure that.

-In this situation you should value the patients consideration and use and apply ethical principles of autonomous and self respect.

Because ethical principles is important to maintain in healthcare professionals. Avoiding or misusing ethics is lead to affect the entire institution and profession.

Mainly ethical principle of justice is have a chance to take a moral decision in this . But in accordance with the depressive patient maintain their consent and reaction is very important. So provide patient comfort.