Treatment withdrawal of the patient on end of life: An analysis of values, ethics and guidelines in palliative care

Abstract Aim Family surrogate decision‐making during the later stage of a patient's life may sometimes result in conflict and emotional distress among the parties involved. The present article aims to promote ethical end‐of‐life decision‐making among healthcare professionals in a view to elimin...

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Main Author: Daniel A. Nnate
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-05-01
Series:Nursing Open
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.777
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author Daniel A. Nnate
author_facet Daniel A. Nnate
author_sort Daniel A. Nnate
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Aim Family surrogate decision‐making during the later stage of a patient's life may sometimes result in conflict and emotional distress among the parties involved. The present article aims to promote ethical end‐of‐life decision‐making among healthcare professionals in a view to eliminating any misunderstanding that may arise while meeting the care needs of the patient. Design A case study involving a request for treatment withdrawal by the family of a patient on end of life. Methods This paper draws upon a scenario encountered during practice to analyse the moral commitments in delivering high‐quality end‐of‐life care with much emphasis on pre‐existing palliative care guidelines for adults. Results Healthcare professionals are bound by the principle of beneficence, non‐maleficence, autonomy and justice. Although the use of guidelines may be tenable, decisions often take into consideration the patient's choice and then weighed against the moral values of healthcare specialists and those required in the profession.
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spelling doaj.art-d63a5ed3c1e04f8a964d308e0de42bef2022-12-21T21:31:03ZengWileyNursing Open2054-10582021-05-01831023102910.1002/nop2.777Treatment withdrawal of the patient on end of life: An analysis of values, ethics and guidelines in palliative careDaniel A. Nnate0Nursing and Community Health School of Health and Life Sciences Glasgow Caledonian University Glasgow UKAbstract Aim Family surrogate decision‐making during the later stage of a patient's life may sometimes result in conflict and emotional distress among the parties involved. The present article aims to promote ethical end‐of‐life decision‐making among healthcare professionals in a view to eliminating any misunderstanding that may arise while meeting the care needs of the patient. Design A case study involving a request for treatment withdrawal by the family of a patient on end of life. Methods This paper draws upon a scenario encountered during practice to analyse the moral commitments in delivering high‐quality end‐of‐life care with much emphasis on pre‐existing palliative care guidelines for adults. Results Healthcare professionals are bound by the principle of beneficence, non‐maleficence, autonomy and justice. Although the use of guidelines may be tenable, decisions often take into consideration the patient's choice and then weighed against the moral values of healthcare specialists and those required in the profession.https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.777dilemmaend‐of‐life careethicsnursingpalliative carevalues
spellingShingle Daniel A. Nnate
Treatment withdrawal of the patient on end of life: An analysis of values, ethics and guidelines in palliative care
Nursing Open
dilemma
end‐of‐life care
ethics
nursing
palliative care
values
title Treatment withdrawal of the patient on end of life: An analysis of values, ethics and guidelines in palliative care
title_full Treatment withdrawal of the patient on end of life: An analysis of values, ethics and guidelines in palliative care
title_fullStr Treatment withdrawal of the patient on end of life: An analysis of values, ethics and guidelines in palliative care
title_full_unstemmed Treatment withdrawal of the patient on end of life: An analysis of values, ethics and guidelines in palliative care
title_short Treatment withdrawal of the patient on end of life: An analysis of values, ethics and guidelines in palliative care
title_sort treatment withdrawal of the patient on end of life an analysis of values ethics and guidelines in palliative care
topic dilemma
end‐of‐life care
ethics
nursing
palliative care
values
url https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.777
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