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Nursing Health Care Ethics

   

Added on  2019-10-30

5 Pages1248 Words181 Views
1Running head: NURSINGNursing Health Care EthicsName of student:Name of university:Author note:

2NURSINGThe topic of the present debate on a nursing ethical issue is “People who abuse drugsand alcohol should be denied access to intensive care units”. The present paper talks againstthe motion and refutes the statement, aiming to establish a standpoint that people who abusedrugs and alcohol must not be denied access to intensive care units. As the instances of patients with alcohol or substance abuse being brought tointensive care units (ICU) are increasing, there is a growing concern around their admission.Intensive care units are the specialised treatment units where patients suffering from acutemedical conditions are brought in for treatment; such a unit is to provide life support anddecrease the chances of mortality. It is evident that saving the life of the patient is the priorityunder such circumstances and there is no denial of this. Speaking on humanitarian ground, nohuman has the right to deny care being given to an individual irrespective of what hiscondition is in relation to drug or alcohol abuse (Luce & White, 2009). As per the AustralianCharter of Healthcare Rights, “everyone has the right to be able to access health care”(safetyandquality.gov.au, 2012). Moreover, since treatment of this concern is prominent inthe present era, it is not a challenge to guide the patient to change his substance dependencyonce he is discharged from the ICU (Ulrich, 2014). ICUs deliver potential benefit at massive public cost, and thus the interventionsrendered must be considered as symbols of promise. Patient autonomy and fundamentalrights to access to care stand against the chances of potential harm being done to others ifpatients with alcohol and substance abuse are admitted to ICUs. Though patient might be aconcern due to multi-faceted issues, their primary right to autonomy cannot be suspended(Medrano et al., 2014). If patients are denied admission to ICUs, the community’s trust on thecare givers will loose out. Admission of such patient might be a reason for harm to others, butit is to be noted that there is no certainty that such harm would be done. The mere probabilityof causing harm to others must not take over the need to save the life of the patient.

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