Reference no: EM133704998

Question

Dr. Richard, an emergency room physician, was on duty when a severely injured man was brought in from a car accident. The man, John who is 37 years old, was unconscious and had multiple fractures and internal injuries. As the medical team was preparing to perform life-saving procedures, John's wife arrived at the hospital with a DNR order signed by John. The DNR order stated that John did not wish to be resuscitated if his heart stopped or if he stopped breathing. However, the injuries John sustained from the car accident were treatable, and if treated promptly, he had a good chance of survival and doctor Smith knows that this is beneficial for him and his wife who is currently 6 months pregnant. She needs all the support she could get from her husband as well. This situation presented an ethical dilemma for Dr. Smith. On one hand, he had a duty to respect John's autonomy and his right to refuse medical treatment. On the other hand, he also had a duty to preserve life and provide the best possible care for his patient. Describe the central ethical issue and state whether it is an ethical dilemma or a moral temptation. Appropriately frame the issue as an ethical question.