Medical Ethics case Study

The following example is a typical example of the sort of issue that individuals discuss from the program, and had been the basis for an assignment question.

Sandra, an exceedingly bright and articulate 13 yr old, is found having a malignant tumour within one attention. The tumour is growing rapidly. Procedure is required and surgeons think it most likely that a blood transfusion would be needed during operation. Sandra’s parents make it clear for your requirements they are hesitant to give their consent to your procedure that involves offering her blood products. Initially, Sandra agrees with all of them, even although you explain to the woman the risks included. However, afterwards, once you along with your colleagues tend to be alone with Sandra, she informs you that she’s actually extremely afraid of dying and need you to definitely do whatever you think is better. Just what in case you do, and exactly what moral factors should notify your choice ?

Best ethical questions involve dispute involving the needs of two (or more) commonly-held ethical values. In cases like this, the dispute is amongst the task of this health group to preserve life and advertise recovery, the duty to admire the directions associated with moms and dads, who have clearly
rejected to consent to your using bloodstream products, and (possibly) a task to Sandra to pay attention to the woman desires. If parents did consent, or if Sandra's wellbeing would not be affected by withholding bloodstream products, after that there would not be a dilemma.

One a reaction to this problem is merely to follow along with whatever instructions are laid down because of the appropriate authorities. Although there tend to be regulations and treatments for this kind of scenario (and medical legislation is a fundamental element of our program), the mere fact of these existence isn’t enough to show that they're the best tips and procedures. And also this is the moral question that individuals really want a remedy to: what are the correct recommendations for circumstances such as this? That they are legal guidelines may be a disagreement for following them - a lot of people believe we now have a duty to obey what the law states- and then we might think that it is advisable for everyone to follow along with the ethical tips than for people to disregard them at might. But this can not settle the
debate as to what should really be done, about what the rules ought to be.

One evidently attractive option in this situation is to believe Sandra - although just 13 - is very articulate, very bright, and has now a readiness beyond the woman years that will allow medical experts to take into account her permission becoming more crucial than that her parents – it is the woman life, in the end. This might enable the health team to utilize bloodstream products if they're had a need to save yourself the woman life, which seems to presents a neat solution associated with the issue. The duty to truly save life is met, the duty to acquire and follow consent is met. The parents had been overruled, however they may have no genuine complaint since Sandra is clearly able to make her own decisions.

However….

Imagine if the problem ended up being somewhat various? What if it was Sandra whom believed that utilizing blood items had been morally wrong, along with her parents have been so frightened of losing their particular child they had been ready to consent towards usage of bloodstream items, while she objected? If Sandra's consent is permitted to overrule the woman mother or father's view in the first instance because this woman is extremely bright and extremely mature, surely we ought and also to be ready to allow her to refusal to override the woman moms and dads’ consent in the second situation, usually we're able to be accused to be inconsistent.