Ethical discussion help required!!!!

madwife2002, BSN, RN · May 31, 2006

Hi Guys, I am a novice on this site and a student to be hopefully. I have to take part in a group discussion and i need your help please !!!!
The topic is : In todays financial climate should people who do not give up smoking be offered cardiac surgery
I know this is an ethical, moral question and as medical staff you are obliged to treat everyone no discrimination, equality, justice and fairness, but what other issues can i discuss from this ethical question?

Hi and welcome to allnurses,

The question you are asking may well be answered better in the uK FORUM as the financial climate in the US is very different than the UK. I will ask for your thread to be moved into the UK forum.

LydiaNN · May 31, 2006

How do you ''know'' that the ethical answer is yes? I'm not asking you to respond to me, just suggesting that you make a list of the points that led you to that answer and contribute those thoughts to the discussion.

mommy2boys · May 31, 2006

I think that no matter what you did to your body, you should still be treated as anyone else. I don't agree w/ people using iv drugs, but that doesn't mean that I don't feel that they shouldn't be treated for HIV or hep if they contract it.

We are all adults and we know what we are doing to our body. Do I think that they should quit smoking, YES. Do I think that they shouldn't receive the care they need because they chose to smoke, NO.

JMO

Erin

madwife2002, BSN, RN · May 31, 2006

I think that no matter what you did to your body, you should still be treated as anyone else. I don't agree w/ people using iv drugs, but that doesn't mean that I don't feel that they shouldn't be treated for HIV or hep if they contract it.
We are all adults and we know what we are doing to our body. Do I think that they should quit smoking, YES. Do I think that they shouldn't receive the care they need because they chose to smoke, NO.
JMO
Erin

:yeahthat:

*CJA* · May 31, 2006

I think that no matter what you did to your body, you should still be treated as anyone else. I don't agree w/ people using iv drugs, but that doesn't mean that I don't feel that they shouldn't be treated for HIV or hep if they contract it.
We are all adults and we know what we are doing to our body. Do I think that they should quit smoking, YES. Do I think that they shouldn't receive the care they need because they chose to smoke, NO.
JMO
Erin

I totally agree with your point about treating people regardless of how they acquired their illness, but I have to take exception with the implication that cigarette smokers are in any way similar to IV drug users. Smoking is legal in this country (U.S.), the government even subsidizes tobacco farming. While it's a terribly addictive and debilitating habit, our society continues in many ways to condone it. It's not fair to then turn around and villify the victims much less deny them medical care.

english_nurse · May 31, 2006

I have to participate in a discussion about: In todays financial cllimate should people who DO NOT STOP smoking be offered cardiac surgery?
I understand ethics and NHS codes and principals say we are to treat everyone and anyone equally and none discriminantly but i need some more meat for my discussion and please I need your help.

very difficult

heres some more for you to put it all in perspective

should people who take drug overdoses and suffer renal failure be dialysed? (it may be their own fault)

should obese people have heart surgery/ free treatment for diabetes etc (being fat is their own fault)

should women who smoke/drink during pregancy be arrested for assault ( is this morally wrong? inflicting your habits on a unborn child))

should people who have become infected with hiv/ other stds be treated for free (as it may be their own fault )

basically the nhs has an ethos of free care for all, that is why it was formed in the first place you cant really exclude one group from treatment because of lifestyle but thats just my opinion

by the way im guilty of a few of the above myself...... i bet we all are

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 31, 2006

I think that no matter what you did to your body, you should still be treated as anyone else. I don't agree w/ people using iv drugs, but that doesn't mean that I don't feel that they shouldn't be treated for HIV or hep if they contract it.
We are all adults and we know what we are doing to our body. Do I think that they should quit smoking, YES. Do I think that they shouldn't receive the care they need because they chose to smoke, NO.
JMO
Erin

:yeahthat:

Princess74 · May 31, 2006

Yes

EricJRN, MSN, RN · May 31, 2006

If you refuse to treat every patient who has contributed to their own illnesses, I think you would find hospitals much emptier than you do now.

I'm sorry that you even have to participate in such a discussion. The odds are stacked against you.

bahamabread · May 31, 2006

Should fat people who eat too much and dont excercise get offered cardiac surgery?

bahamabread · May 31, 2006

should diabetics who NEVER follow diet or check their blood levels get medical care when they have gangrenous toes?