Assignment task: Billy is an 81-year-old male with congestive heart failure, chronic renal failure and diabetes. Billy has been on peritoneal dialysis for the past 6 years and has had two episodes of septicemia. He and his wife, Lorraine, agreed that they wanted palliative care services six months ago. An advanced directive was signed at that time.
Billy and Lorraine have four adult children. Their youngest daughter died two years ago of metastatic colon cancer. Two of the adult children live in the same city as Billy and Lorraine and one son, Ed, lives in another state about 300 miles away. Ed has not seen his father in three years, and when he was contacted by his sister a month ago that his father was quickly deteriorating, he decided to come home for a visit. When he walked into the house, he was shocked, confused, and angry that his father was so ill. He demanded to talk with the hospice nurse-he wanted to know why his father had lost so much weight, why he was not eating, why his breathing was so "heavy," and why his doctors are not treating him more aggressively. "My sister had hospice and you all let her die. I will not let you kill my father, too." The hospice nurse arrives to the home to speak with Ed. Ed demands that his father be admitted to the hospital where "he can get constant care and nutrition through his veins."
Assignment Instructions:
Initial Discussion Post:
Please answer all of the questions listed below in your post.
Q1. How would you respond to Ed's demands?
Q2. How could you assist Ed in respecting his father's wishes?
Q3. How could you use the other family members to assist with Ed's anger and confusion?
Q4. Would you consider placing Billy back into the hospital, per Ed's demands?
Q5. Why or why not?