Life Or Death Who Has The Right To Make The Choice

Life or Death Who has the Right to Make the Choice
This paper will introduce a case study that results in an ethical dilemma. The ethical dilemma will be
clearly stated including obligations and conflicts. Using the Contemporary Utilitarianism theory I will
analyze the ethical dilemma. Finally I will analyze the same case using an Egoistic approach as an
alternative course of action.
Case Study
An apparent 19 year old male is brought to the emergency room by ambulance in respiratory
failure related to end stage cystic fibrosis. The patient is accompanied by his girlfriend who states that the
patient has a do not resuscitate (DNR) order. As the emergency room physician tries to contact the patients
primary care physician he finds that the patient is under the care of a pediatrician which makes him
suspicious of the DNR request. He confronts the girlfriend about the patients age because the patient is
unable to communicate due to his respiratory condition. The girlfriend breaks down and admits that the
patient is actually 17 years old. The physician immediately intubates the patient in an effort to stabilize his
respiratory condition. The patients respiratory condition is stabilized after a short time and he is extubated.
The patient relates to his nurse that he does not want to be intubated again or placed on a respirator. The
nurse relays this information to the ph!
ysician who at this point does nothing. The patients mother arrives at the emergency department...

Life Or Death Who Has The Right To Make The Choice

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