Case Study: Legal & Ethical Principles in Healthcare
Added on 2023-01-20
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Running head: CASE STUDY: LEGAL & ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN HEALTHCARE
Case Study: Legal & Ethical Principles in Healthcare
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Case Study: Legal & Ethical Principles in Healthcare
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
CASE STUDY: LEGAL & ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN HEALTHCARE 1
Case Study: Legal & Ethical Principles in Healthcare
Introduction to the Case Study
Patients on life support machines present moral challenges for the family members and
their relatives, especially when doctors are convinced that the patient may not recover from the
treatment. Sometimes the caregivers are aware that the patient will not recover, but when they
share the truth with the family members, it becomes impossible for the family members to accept
the truth. When there are minimal chances of recovery for a person placed on the life support
system, the healthcare providers may recommend that the machine is switched off to prevent
further emotional and financial stress on the family as well as other patients that may be waiting
to utilize the few available resources in hospitals. Hamilton, Shahaduz, Sandy, and David (2017)
state that switching off the life support machine is a form of mercy killing. Mercy killingis done
in compassion and it can help both the person suffering and the family at large, especially when
the person has been on treatment for a while. However, there have been different views on the
mercy killing, also called euthanasia. Proponents of euthanasia view it as an ethical form of
respecting the wish of the patient and a form of compassion for the patient and the family. On the
other hand, opponents argue that euthanasia is no different from mercy killing and that it is
against the moral law of life (Purcaru, Preda, Popa, Moga, & Rogozea , 2014)). This difference
in views and perspectives attracts the ethical and legal debate on the question of euthanasia. This
paper discusses both legal and ethical moral considerations on euthanasia from the case of
Richard, an Australian that was placed on the life support machine after suffering head injury
that caused placed him in a vegetative state. It is expected that the analysis of this case study will
expound the current public understanding of the Australian laws on euthanasia and explain why
some people may be opposed to euthanasia from ethical point of view.
Case Study: Legal & Ethical Principles in Healthcare
Introduction to the Case Study
Patients on life support machines present moral challenges for the family members and
their relatives, especially when doctors are convinced that the patient may not recover from the
treatment. Sometimes the caregivers are aware that the patient will not recover, but when they
share the truth with the family members, it becomes impossible for the family members to accept
the truth. When there are minimal chances of recovery for a person placed on the life support
system, the healthcare providers may recommend that the machine is switched off to prevent
further emotional and financial stress on the family as well as other patients that may be waiting
to utilize the few available resources in hospitals. Hamilton, Shahaduz, Sandy, and David (2017)
state that switching off the life support machine is a form of mercy killing. Mercy killingis done
in compassion and it can help both the person suffering and the family at large, especially when
the person has been on treatment for a while. However, there have been different views on the
mercy killing, also called euthanasia. Proponents of euthanasia view it as an ethical form of
respecting the wish of the patient and a form of compassion for the patient and the family. On the
other hand, opponents argue that euthanasia is no different from mercy killing and that it is
against the moral law of life (Purcaru, Preda, Popa, Moga, & Rogozea , 2014)). This difference
in views and perspectives attracts the ethical and legal debate on the question of euthanasia. This
paper discusses both legal and ethical moral considerations on euthanasia from the case of
Richard, an Australian that was placed on the life support machine after suffering head injury
that caused placed him in a vegetative state. It is expected that the analysis of this case study will
expound the current public understanding of the Australian laws on euthanasia and explain why
some people may be opposed to euthanasia from ethical point of view.
CASE STUDY: LEGAL & ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN HEALTHCARE 2
Ethical Issues in Case Study
Euthanasia attracts ethical concerns because it touches on the moral law of life. The
major challenge that faces nurses and healthcare professionals is the collision between traditional
values and science. According to the case study, Meryl is opposed to the switching off the life
sustenance machine because she is convinced that her husband will wake up from his condition.
This is an example of a proponent of the natural law of life. According to Chakraborty et al.
(2017), proponents of the natural law of live believe that it is only God who can take the life of a
patient away. They are convinced that death is natural and it has to be left to occur naturally. Any
attempt to terminate the life of a living being is considered unethical and interfered with the
dignity of life. While it is true that euthanasia is a painless killing of the patient to alleviate
suffering of the patient and the family members, the strict objection from the proponents of
natural life makes it difficult for nurses and other healthcare professionals to carry out their
duties (Sigley, 2016). Religious beliefs view deliberate withdrawal of the patient from the life
sustenance system as deliberate murder. This is a significant challenge for nurses who have to
attend to patients that are in vegetative state.
Unlike pro-religious believers like Meryl, Lucas holds a different perspective on the
moral issue of keeping the patient in a vegetative state on a life sustenance system. According to
the case study, Lucas had seen the state of Richard and was convinced that the chances of his
friend to recover were diminishing. As a result, he was convinced that the best alternative was to
switch off the life sustenance system. He even recalls that Richard had told him that he would
not wish to be left in a helpless state if he ever suffered from an accident in the workplace. Lucas
is also a proponent of sanctity of life, but he believes that people should die in respect and
Ethical Issues in Case Study
Euthanasia attracts ethical concerns because it touches on the moral law of life. The
major challenge that faces nurses and healthcare professionals is the collision between traditional
values and science. According to the case study, Meryl is opposed to the switching off the life
sustenance machine because she is convinced that her husband will wake up from his condition.
This is an example of a proponent of the natural law of life. According to Chakraborty et al.
(2017), proponents of the natural law of live believe that it is only God who can take the life of a
patient away. They are convinced that death is natural and it has to be left to occur naturally. Any
attempt to terminate the life of a living being is considered unethical and interfered with the
dignity of life. While it is true that euthanasia is a painless killing of the patient to alleviate
suffering of the patient and the family members, the strict objection from the proponents of
natural life makes it difficult for nurses and other healthcare professionals to carry out their
duties (Sigley, 2016). Religious beliefs view deliberate withdrawal of the patient from the life
sustenance system as deliberate murder. This is a significant challenge for nurses who have to
attend to patients that are in vegetative state.
Unlike pro-religious believers like Meryl, Lucas holds a different perspective on the
moral issue of keeping the patient in a vegetative state on a life sustenance system. According to
the case study, Lucas had seen the state of Richard and was convinced that the chances of his
friend to recover were diminishing. As a result, he was convinced that the best alternative was to
switch off the life sustenance system. He even recalls that Richard had told him that he would
not wish to be left in a helpless state if he ever suffered from an accident in the workplace. Lucas
is also a proponent of sanctity of life, but he believes that people should die in respect and
CASE STUDY: LEGAL & ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN HEALTHCARE 3
dignity. As a proponent of respect to dignity of the patient, Lucas is convinced that the state of
his friend is embarrassing and he should be relieved.
Additionally, Lucas is a proponent of respect for patient’s autonomy. According to the
Guardianship and Administrative Act (2000), all people above the age of eighteen years have the
right to make decisions and those decisions have to be respected accordingly. In this case,
Richard had wished to be treated with dignity. The decision to keep him on the life support
machine is demoralizing and diminishes his dignity as a person. Furthermore, the Queensland
Law Handbook (2016), states that medical ethics should prioritize the respect for people’s rights
and freedoms. In this case, Richard is convinced that the helpless condition of his friend on the
life support machine is devastating and there is a need to intervene and alleviate the suffering of
his friend as well as other people that are touched by his condition.
It is evident from the analysis of the values and beliefs held by both Lucas and Meryl that
they have opposing views in the termination of the treatment of Richard. Meryl is inspired by
religious beliefs that her husband will one day recover from the vegetative state. Lucas is
convinced that the treatment is not adding any value to the patient, hence it should be terminated.
He is ready to defend his belief with the facts that the status of Richard cannot be repaired. He
will also argue that the cost of medication and the emotional stress from the patient is affecting
the patient and the family. He can also argue that the termination of the treatment will create
available space for people who have chances of recovery to use the life sustenance machine
(Sulmasy, Travaline, Mitchell, & Ely, 2016). Meryl will have her reasons for championing for
keeping the patient on the life sustenance, even when he is in a vegetative state. Meryl’s views
the technology of artificial life support as a God-send opportunity to extend the life of patients.
dignity. As a proponent of respect to dignity of the patient, Lucas is convinced that the state of
his friend is embarrassing and he should be relieved.
Additionally, Lucas is a proponent of respect for patient’s autonomy. According to the
Guardianship and Administrative Act (2000), all people above the age of eighteen years have the
right to make decisions and those decisions have to be respected accordingly. In this case,
Richard had wished to be treated with dignity. The decision to keep him on the life support
machine is demoralizing and diminishes his dignity as a person. Furthermore, the Queensland
Law Handbook (2016), states that medical ethics should prioritize the respect for people’s rights
and freedoms. In this case, Richard is convinced that the helpless condition of his friend on the
life support machine is devastating and there is a need to intervene and alleviate the suffering of
his friend as well as other people that are touched by his condition.
It is evident from the analysis of the values and beliefs held by both Lucas and Meryl that
they have opposing views in the termination of the treatment of Richard. Meryl is inspired by
religious beliefs that her husband will one day recover from the vegetative state. Lucas is
convinced that the treatment is not adding any value to the patient, hence it should be terminated.
He is ready to defend his belief with the facts that the status of Richard cannot be repaired. He
will also argue that the cost of medication and the emotional stress from the patient is affecting
the patient and the family. He can also argue that the termination of the treatment will create
available space for people who have chances of recovery to use the life sustenance machine
(Sulmasy, Travaline, Mitchell, & Ely, 2016). Meryl will have her reasons for championing for
keeping the patient on the life sustenance, even when he is in a vegetative state. Meryl’s views
the technology of artificial life support as a God-send opportunity to extend the life of patients.
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