Respond This Discussion Question & Answer Guide (With Explanation)

Students often encounter this when studying fundamental concepts.

What This Question Is About

This question relates to respond this discussion and requires a structured academic response.

How to Approach This Question

Structure your response with introduction, analysis, and conclusion.

Key Explanation

This topic involves respond this discussion. A strong answer should include explanation, application, and examples.

Original Question

Respond to this discussion by expanding upon each entry or suggesting an alternative approach to addressing the ethical challenge they described. As we encounter ethical challenges, it helps the nurse to grow and build their professional experience. Working as an oncology nurse and administering chemotherapy, which has many side effects, with most of the patients still in their 40s and 50s, and given the disease is prone to relapses with more severe symptoms, I encounter ethical problems most of the time when caring for these patients. Sometimes, the disease progresses quickly and gets to end-of-life care with families not prepared for the outcome. With the advancement in technology, which prolongs the life of patients, complex ethical challenges arise due to decision-making regarding end-of-life care ( Analazi et al., 2024). One of the main ethical principles of end-of-life care is patient autonomy, which states that patients have the right to make decisions regarding their health according to their values, culture, and principles ( Analazi et al., 2024). Sometimes, situations interfere with patient autonomy, where the patient’s condition deteriorates fast, causing a conflict between the family and the providers regarding the best goal of care. Family or Surrogate decision-makers struggle to balance their decisions with the patients’ and the best evidence-based standards. Analazi et al. (2024) also state that palliative care aligns with the ethical principle of non-maleficence to relieve pain while preserving the patient’s dignity. Palliative sedation and pain management are used to keep the patient comfortable without hastening the death. Most often, there is a conflict with patients when the family wants more pain medication while others don’t want any at all. One ethical dilemma I faced on our unit was a patient who was diagnosed with cancer, which was a relapse. At the time of diagnosis, the patient was fully alert, oriented, and aware of the situation, diagnosis, and treatment plan. The patient remained as a full code. The past medical history of the patient was a liver and kidney transplant. After a few cycles of chemotherapy, the patient developed complications with decreased mentation confusion, respiratory failure requiring a tracheostomy, renal failure requiring dialysis, and, worst of all, cancer had metastasized to the brain and different organs. The patient became incapacitated and was always in pain, per the doctor, the prognosis was very poor, and the best course was the end of life care. The family, however, wanted to continue full treatment. With time, most of the vital signs and lab results were critical. The palliative care team, the doctors, and the primary care nurse had to meet with the family, and the care team emphasized clear communication and understanding of patient values to help the family make decisions regarding changing the care to comfort care. As one of the primary nurses, I had to reinforce after the other care team was not present by educating the family regarding end-of-life care. The patient was placed on a PCA pump, and the pain was well controlled. Given the fact that the prognosis was poor and the patient’s condition kept deteriorating, as a biliary drain was also present, the decision to transition the patient to palliative care was the best course to take. The healthcare team was patient with the family because it took weeks and three meetings to convince them.

******CLICK ORDER NOW BELOW AND OUR WRITERS WILL WRITE AN ANSWER TO THIS ASSIGNMENT OR ANY OTHER ASSIGNMENT, DISCUSSION, ESSAY, HOMEWORK OR QUESTION YOU MAY HAVE. OUR PAPERS ARE PLAGIARISM FREE*******."