Reference no: EM133417270

You are caring for a 30 year-old Hispanic male with a long-term partner and two small children, who was admitted to the sub-acute rehabilitation unit in a vegetative state following a ruptured brain aneurysm four months ago. He has not regained consciousness since his "stroke" and has minimal brain activity documented by EEG tracings. He has no response to voice, sight or pain and no gag or swallow reflex.

He previously expressed his wishes to his partner about meaningful life telling her that he would not want to be kept alive if he could not participate in life. Unfortunately, he never put these wishes in an Advance Directive and has not discussed his wishes with his parents, who are devout Catholics.

A conference was held with his parents and his partner to discuss withdrawing tube feedings and fluids. His parents are very upset and direct their anger to his partner and the nursing staff. The father quotes the commandment "thou shalt not kill" and believes that withdrawing food and fluids would be murder. The mother expresses anger with the medical staff saying that "medical technology has interfered with God's plan" and there is no choice except to continue with the treatment. His partner, who is 4 ½ months pregnant only cries and says everything is her fault.

1. Who has the legal right to make decisions about his care?

2. What assumptions do you have about this type of situation?

3. Put yourself in the position of the people in the situation (partner, father, mother) and respond to the situation from their point of view. What would your decision be if you were the partner? Mother? Father?

4. What other health care professionals would you use as resources in this situation?

5. List three possible options for this family to come to resolution on the issues in this case?