Reference no: EM132389776
Case study on ethical and legal issues in long term care
Long-term and end of life care can present legal and ethical challenges. The ability to navigate these, to the benefit of the patient, family, facility, and your own career, is a critical skill in LTC administration.
Imagine you receive a call from one of your former subordinates, the acting administrator for a LTC facility. This individual looks to you for mentorship and subject matter expertise. Now, select one scenario from the three case studies posted in this week's Course Content as the details of what your colleague faces.
Given the specifics of the situation, prepare for your protégé an analysis of the circumstances, key considerations, and recommended course(s) of action, citing the benefits and risks therein. In answering, you may consider the questions presented within the scenario, but no not limit your analysis to these queries.
Case 1: Mr. Parker is an 88 year - old resident of your LTC home with end stage Alzheimer's. He is wheelchair bound and spends most of his days sleeping in his wheelchair near a window facing the garden. He needs to be spoon fed but has recently started to refuse to eat. Mr. Parker has three children, one of whom is very involved in the care of her father.
The team approaches the daughter about her father refusing to eat, and feels that his refusal is legitimate. Thus, they propose changing the plan of care to palliation.
The daughter absolutely refuses, claiming that "you cannot kill my father, I want everything done to keep him living!"
What are some of the ethical issues in this case?
Do we know whether the resident is capable to make his own health care decisions?
Are there any known wishes from Mr. Parker? What would he want? What are his values?
Is his daughter the substitute decision maker? Can she, in this role, demand treatment and expect that you comply?
Reference: Champlain Centre for Health Care Ethics / Centre de Bioétique Champlain (2018).
Case Studies: Long Term Care.