Palliative Care | Research Report

Running Head: PALLIATIVE CARE 1
Palliative Care
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PALLIATIVE CARE 2
Introduction
Palliative care is the type of healthcare offered to people who are in their last
months or years of their lives because there is no cure for the illness that they are
suffering from (Sandman, Molander & Benkel, 2017). Palliative care is, therefore,
critical in relieving pain and extending the life of the person as much as it is possible.
This paper discusses the ethical decision-making principles which are relevant when
offering care to Mr. John. The article also discusses the cultural aspects which may
affect the care that Mr. John receives as well as a reflection on how personal beliefs
may impact the type of care I provide to Mr. John. The strategies used to manage the
impact of personal beliefs on professional interactions are also discussed.
Facilitation of collaborative ethical decision making
Palliative care is provided by a multidisciplinary team composed of various
health professionals who include; physicians and surgeons, general practitioners,
consultants, psychiatrists, dietitians, nephrologists, nurses, and pharmacists (Schofield
et al., 2019). Each of these health professionals will play an essential role in caring for
Mr. John as he lives in the last days of his life. As health professionals collaborate in
caring for John, they have to make ethical decisions. One of the ethical principle that
is relevant in the case of John is autonomy. Autonomy is the ability of a person to
decide by themselves through deliberation. Before deciding his health, the team must
ensure that Mr. John has the required information and can make the appropriate
decision (Hernández-Marrero, Fradique & Pereira, 2019). John is a person who is of
sound mind, and he can make decisions regarding his care. The team of health
professionals, therefore, has to respect the decision that he has made. The team should

PALLIATIVE CARE 3
make arrangements to help Mr. John receive palliative care while at home since he
has decided he does not want further treatment at the hospital.
The ethical principle of beneficence also applies in the case of John. The
multidisciplinary team should decide by balancing the benefits of intervention against
risks and costs (Rastogi, 2017). Any treatment undertaken should be done to benefit
the patient while taking into consideration the discomfort and the burden of the
treatment. Mr. John is unlikely to benefit much from the treatment, and hence a
decision should be made in collaboration with the patient and the family on whether
he should proceed with the treatment or should go home and receive the end of life
care (Sandman, Molander & Benkel, 2017).
Justice should also apply when deciding Mr. John. The resources that Mr. John
could use while in hospital can be used to assist another patient with a better chance
of living, and hence the hospital resources should be utilized. Furthermore, right
based justice indicates that Mr. John has a right to decide where he should receive
care, and his right should be respected (Bally, Smith & Burles, 2019).
Cultural Practices that John may wish to uphold
The culture of Mr. John has a massive impact on his palliative care. This is
because the culture and the traditions of the patient must be respected when offering
palliative care (Kirk & Coyle,2016). Mr. John comes from the Aboriginal community,
which is very rich in culture and traditions relating to death and end of life care (Schill
& Caxaj, 2019). In the Aboriginal community, the family plays a vital role in deciding
the end of life care. Senior male members of the community will play a role in
helping Mr. John during the time he will be receiving end of life care at home. The