Case study: Nurse Travers, now employed by a local community hospital, has been an RN for over 25 years. She is shocked by how routinely physicians and nurses are lately willing to participate in the death of patients. She strongly rejects abortion, withdrawing life-sustaining ventilators, and hastening death through pain medication. He beliefs are supported by her minister and her religious congregation. Supervisors a the hospital know about her views and frequently make arrangements so that Nurse Travers is not forced to violate her conscience. On a holiday, Nurse Travers's assigned floor was understaffed. Mr. Stoer, a patient with lung cancer and multiple organ failures, was in extreme pain because the cancer had spread near to his spinal column. The pain, which had only recently developed, was excruciating. Nurse Travers quietly prayed for him whenever she could. The patient's wife insisted on stronger pain medication, which a physician ordered. Nurse Travers believed that administration of the medication would hasten his death, due to his breathing problems. She refused to comply with the order, claiming it violated her conscience. On the phone, she explained to the physician that she was perfectly willing to give a more routine medication. The doctor aggressively insisted that she give the prescribed dose. Failure to do so, he insisted, would have serious consequences for Nurse Travers. She steadfastly refused. The result was that Mr. Stoer did not get the pain medication for five hours, the time it took to make alternative arrangements. He died soon after administration of the medication.
Q1. Explain virtual care ethics and principlism theory and why it is the appropriate ones to apply to the case with supporting reasoning.
Q2. Discuss one scenario that could've happened, or did actually happened that you think was unethical. For example: "If Dr. Dolittle had insisted on the aggressive treatment without Joel's consent...." (What happened or could've happened.)
Q3. Discuss one counter argument that could be used against the theory that you've chosen, and defend your position. For example: "Some could argue that Care Ethics would be more appropriate to this situation because of (this and that), but I argue that - Deontology is more appropriate because of (this and that)..."
Q4. Conclude with conviction and with a note of sympathy if appropriate.
Q5. Brief summarize the facts.