Scenario #1 An 82 year old patient has signed a healthcare directive indicating that he agrees to a ventilator and feeding tube “temporality” but does not want any heroic measures to survive. He...

Scenario #1

An 82 year old patient has signed a healthcare directive indicating that he agrees to a ventilator and feeding tube “temporality” but does not want any heroic measures to survive. He suffers a major setback in his recovery. The patient is not coherent enough to speak for himself and is placed on a ventilator and a feeding tube is inserted. Days turn into weeks and he is not recovering.

Questions

1. As a family member, what would you do in this situation?


2. At what point does the ventilator and feeding tube become a heroic measure?


3. Do you think that his healthcare directive was detailed enough? If not, why.

Scenario #2

Nicole Alexander, a 52 year old woman with a history of heart problems, arrives at the hospital via an ambulance. Upon arrival at the hospital she is unconscious and her breathing is labored. Her family members, including her husband, are at the hospital and insist that the doctor do all that she can to save Mrs. Alexander. Upon the request of Mr. Alexander, life sustaining measures are taken to keep Mrs. Alexander alive. Stephanie Alexander, the patient’s daughter arrives at the hospital with her mother’s living will which states that she does not want to be kept alive by artificial means. The doctor insists that all treatment be ceased and Mr. Alexander adamantly disagrees.

Questions

1. Who has the authority in this situation?


2. What happens if treatment has been started and then is ceased?