Dhillon, MAID
Dhillon, Manpreet Kaur Medical Assistance in Dying George Brown College February 24, 20201.Medical assistance in dying is the ethical dilemma that I have selected in the listing of the issues given. I am a conscientious objector to medical assistance in dying. In this case, as Mr. S who has no family member in his family is asking me to be present to start the IV for the physician to use to administer the medications which will cause his death. However, I do not have any relevant information in what circumstances Mr. S has taken the decision.In this ethical dilemma (medical assistance in dying), the ethical principles which are related to my position are as below: -Accountability: – Mr. S is responsible for his own decision regarding medical assistance in dying. In my understanding, I am making sure that patient is getting proper nursing care and relevant information be given in timely manner.Beneficence: – Beneficence has two components. One is doing or promoting good and second is preventing or removing harm (Burkhardt, Nathaniel, Walton,2018). I as a care provider of patient always make sure about what is good for him and prevent him from any situation which can cause harm.Respect for autonomy: – In term of Mr. S decision’s, I respect for the decision that he make by his own thought. He has right to make his own choices about the situations which affect his own life. There is no any kind of force or something from anyone.Non-maleficence: – I provide care to the patient by not giving him any kind of harm either intentionally or intentionally.Justice: – As a care provider I am making sure about Mr. S gets fair, equitable and appropriate care. (Writers,2019)The ethical values which are important in providing nursing care to the patient by me are client wellbeing, client choice, privacy and confidentiality, respect for life, maintaining commitments, truthfulness and fairness. (College of Nurses of Ontario,2019)In Federal Government Bill C-14, a nurse must know about the policies, standards, guidelines, processes and services in terms of providing care in medical assistance in dying. (Canadian Nurses Association,2017). Only the physician or nurse practitioner can provide or prescribe the medication to the patient which causes the patient’s death at requested. The nurse can only provide care for the patient who is considering medical assistance in dying. As a conscientious objector, my personal preferences, feelings can be different from other people who are giving care. The law is not forcing anyone to provide care in medical assistance in dying. As I am not comfortable in providing nursing care in medical assistance in dying, transferring the care to another care provider. 2. In general, each person has different way of expressing emotions. It is not easy for me to cope up with my emotions as I know my client is going towards his death. While I am not sure why he has taken this decision and I will not object it. I will respect client’s decision, choices. I will continue his wound care until other health care provider is not assigned to him. Although, being a conscientious objector, under any circumstances if I have to participate in MAID, I would be avoiding to get assigned critically ill patients due to my fear of anticipated MAID. My nursing care will be impacted directly or indirectly because I will feel guilt after participating in death of an individual. People believe in nursing care to promote care and prevent illness and further complications but not to cause death. 3. I would always address the issue if I find the treatment chosen by patient, family or health care team. I know I can not put my believes and concerns upon others but I would discuss the concerns with authorized health care professionals. Yes, I agree that addressing this kind of concern is appropriate. If I am not clear about patient care, I can get more information from other health care team members.BY addressing the issue, I would get opportunity to explore the situation and find the reason behind the decision. It will also give me a chance either to clear my thoughts or find alternative choices of treatment.4. I heard about medical assistance in dying 5 years ago. At that time, it was so awkward for me that how someone can take decision about his own death. MAID is man-made death whereas natural death is only in God’s hand. I can understand that sometime people are living with worse life-threatening condition with no or poor prognosis and they pray for death. MAID was not legal until 2015 in Canada. However, In June 2016, Bill C-14 has passed which allow patient to get medical assistance in dying under specific circumstances. “A Patient-Centered Approach, the committee recommended that ‘Medical Assistance in Dying’ replace ‘physician-assisted death’ that the Criminal Code allow MAID to be directed by physician and NPs.” (Canadian Nurses Association,2017) My point of view about MAID were always same because pain or suffering might get improve sometime and patient could recover from near-death condition. Patient well-being and safety is always be first in terms of continuity of care. I will provide care until arrange substitute care provider will be found. I will provide other care such as end-of- life care such as palliative care.5. If I had to encounter the medical assistance in dying situation in my practice, I would not feel comfortable. My feelings would be different from the patient’s beliefs and feelings.Several nursing organizations provide professional liability protection services to the nurses to declare and support a conscientious objection with regards to MAID. (Canadian Nurses Association,2017). The law does not force a person to provide MAID.I will explore and clarify the concerns and the concept behind MAID by attending counselling services and sessions.I will attend various services like professional liability protection services, nursing regulatory bodies to make myself aware about how to work with other health care team members together to accomplish a harmonized, effective and equitable legislative and regulatory framework for MAID in Canada. (Canadian Nurses Association,2017). References: -Burkhardt, M. A., Nathaniel, A. K., & Walton, N. (2018). Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing (3rd ed.) (pg.50-77). Toronto: Nelson.Writers, R. N. S. (2019, September 20). Ethical Practice: NCLEX-RN. Retrieved from https://www.registerednursing.org/nclex/ethical-practice/Canadian Nurses Association. (2017). National Nursing Framework on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada. Retrieved from http://www.virtualhospice.ca/Assets/cna-national-nursing-framework-on-maidEng_20170216155827.pdfCollege of Nurses of Ontario. (2018). Guidance on Nurses’ Roles in Medical Assistance in Dying. Retrieved from https://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/prac/41056-guidance-on-nurses-roles-in-maid.pdfCollege of Nurses of Ontario. (2019). Practice Standard: Ethics. Retrieved from http://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/prac/41034_ethics.pdf
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