Pertinent Ethical Issues

Sleepyeyes · Jan 20, 2003

Relatives overriding a pt's Living Will or DNR.....

putting in G-Tubes or Venting pts that never wanted to be....

it's very distressing to have to take care of these pts because in some cases, they're aware of all this stuff happening to them on some level, but really too sick to express their own desires.

nursenatalie, ADN, RN · Jan 20, 2003

Thank you sleepyeyes! We only just learned in class last week that family has the right to override a living will! It seems to make the living will obsolete!?

I Appreciate your input...our group has discussed the issue of Nursing Strike= Patient Abandonment? and

"Slow Codes"

When we presented the idea of "slow codes" to our teacher she dismissed it saying that it is illegal. It still happens...therefore it is an issue, right?

emmRN · Jan 20, 2003

One ethical situation I have come across that drives me crazy is when the docs aren't completely honest with the pts, or offer them false hope.

nursenatalie, ADN, RN · Jan 20, 2003

I agree emm... I have been in a situation when a family insists that a diagnosis not be disclosed to a patient. The doctor went along with the family's request but did stipulate that if the patient asked him about Ca directly he would tell the truth. "Someone" told the patient to talk to the doctor about his diagnosis.

nursenatalie, ADN, RN · Jan 20, 2003

Anyone have any information on "slow codes"????... a fellow classmate. They are of course "off the books" She said that certain patients whose family kept them at full code status, or those without family, who were coding on a regular basis were given a slow motion code or late code...not saying I agree with it, and dont wanna know if anyone was involved in one, but is anyone else aware that this occurs?

nursenatalie, ADN, RN · Jan 20, 2003

I was also wondering if anyone knew of any good websites or searchable journals with information related to ethics? I have found a few but if anyone else can recommend a good one I would appreciate it

researchrabbit · Jan 20, 2003

Poor informed consent process.

renerian, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2003

Yes we had slow codes, not that they in reality were supposed to exist. The kind with bone CA where your break all their ribs with one push.........

craaaaaaaaackkkkkkkkkk......................

renerian

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jan 20, 2003

How about keeping a brain-dead teenager on life support for more than a week so that the family can "celebrate" their 16th birthday with them before they die? I've seen this happen twice.

Or those ethnic/cultural groups who are willing and ready to undergo organ transplantation but would NEVER allow a family member to be a donor out of cultural conviction. What a paradox (I'm trying to be kind here).

And then there's putting an infant on ECMO after more than 2 hours of continuous resuscitation. What are we saving them for? To watch them seize for days until the family is ready to let them go?

Ethics... what a difficult concept to wrap one's head (and heart) around.

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 20, 2003

how bout the everlasting quest to keep super-preemies alive at all costs, iespecially the emotional ones to the parents? the assault going on daily in the NICU's to save paper-skinned iron-lunged 23-24 weekers is what I am talking about.......often against the wishes of parents who would be willing to let such children pass.

nimbex, RN · Jan 23, 2003

again, the relatives overriding DNR status, but even worse to keep collecting the social security benefits...

Those that keep "loved ones" alive to receive checks.....

SICK