Monday, January 14, 2013

Ethical Theory

You'll need to know the three main theories (utilitarianism, Kant, virtue ethics) well enough to apply them starting this week and for the rest of the semester.  Watch the Sandel videos, read your text, and ask your questions here.  In class on 15 Jan we'll talk start to walk through the theories, but you'll need to get to work on them yourselves!
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7 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 31, 2013 at 2:22 PM

    I have a great real life case!!! My mom is a RN in the cathlab and I was talking about bioethics and she had several cases for me....So what would you do......A patient from the ICU needed a central IV (simple procedure) for IV medications, but the patient had a DNR order (do not resuscitate). The patient came into the ICU with low blood pressure. After the central IV was placed, the patient was being transported from the procedural table to the stretcher and patient began to cardiac arrest. What do you do? ....

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  2. UnknownFebruary 6, 2013 at 2:58 PM

    I would have to say that you try and manage the patients pain as long as possible. I am unfamiliar with the process of cardiac arrest; however, I would assume that it is fairly quick. I think that its a judgement call from the nurses. If they think that they can easily save him then they should step in; however, if it becomes an extreme I think you should respect his DNR and let him pass with as little discomfort as possible

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    1. Jimmy BeatriceApril 25, 2013 at 7:24 AM

      I can only imagine the pressure that one would be confronted with in making a decision between one's life and death. I'm the kind of person that would say always try to save the patients life, but like Brent said above, it really is a a tough judgement call, where would you draw the line to say its at a point where there is no turning back.

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  3. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2013 at 5:11 PM

    I agree that if the patient had a DNR, then you cannot over-ride that and bring him back. While it is a simple procedure, the patient had signed the DNR hopefully with the knowledge that they could not be saved in this scenario. I definitely think that this stresses how important it is to consider what choice you are making by signing a DNR when simple procedures could end your life. For me personally, I do not think I could ever sign a DNR because of situations like this and I see situations like this constantly by working in the hospital.

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  4. UnknownFebruary 19, 2013 at 8:31 AM

    well i understand your guys point about respecting the DNR order... but do you think if the patient were giving the scenario would choose to be resuscitated ???

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  5. UnknownMarch 4, 2013 at 9:39 AM

    nooo response sparks??? i am disappointed =)

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  6. UnknownMarch 9, 2013 at 8:27 AM

    I'm with kelsey on this one, The DNR takes precidence over the other regardless if the procedure is a simple one. This is the patients wish, and they made this wish being fully cognitive, aware, and in a logical state of mind. This just comes to show, that you should carefully consider all your options before you sign something because who knows if later down the road something will happen that could better your situation and is a simple procedure? I'm not sure how i would react if this were me though. I mean in some cases i would sign a DNR, like if i were at the end of my life or terminally ill, but in other cases i wouldn't. Its just something one has to think about carefully before going through with because once you do, its out there.

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