Ethical Considerations and Treatment in End-of-Life Care

This report delves into the ethical complexities surrounding end-of-life care, particularly for the elderly. It emphasizes the importance of balancing medical interventions with the natural course of death and the patient's quality of life. The report highlights the significance of respecting patient autonomy, including the implementation of Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) orders when requested. It also acknowledges the role of family members in decision-making, while cautioning against the potential for conflicts and the need to consider the patient's overall condition. The report draws upon existing literature to explore the ethical dilemmas, healthcare costs, and the shift towards comfort care over aggressive treatment. It underscores the need for healthcare professionals to consider the patient's values and beliefs when making decisions regarding end-of-life care.

Running head: MEDICAL ETHICS
END-OF-LIFE CARE TREATMENT OF ELDER PEOPLE
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1END-OF-LIFE CARE TREATMENT OF ELDER PEOPLE
When a patient or elderly people of family are in the onset of end-of-life or approaching
death there should be proper balance between the nature’s course of death and currently available
medication system. Although it leads to a controversial issue since the modern technologies
associated with health system is improving day by day to support the people up to the last day of
their life. It is obvious that the human death is an inevitable consequence. Therefore, the medical
treatment should be applied until the patient is incapable or escape this. Nonetheless, it should
not be accepted that because of this treatment the patient is suffering a lot. It is not just to provide
prolonged life. The proper balance is maintained when the patient is survived with quality.
The patients are seeking new medical treatment due to the advancement of the system. It
increases the unnecessary healthcare cost and raises inequity of healthcare. Hence, the family
and patients should consider the option of obtaining comfort care rather than advanced care
(Karnik and Kanekar, 2016). The healthcare professionals should respect the values and consider
the beliefs of patient before withdrawing of a treatment or DNR (do not resuscitate) order (order,
2020). When the patient wants DNR and do not want cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) then
physicians also should give up the process. It is not required to unnecessarily progress the
treatment. The family plays an important role as substitute of the patient. These preferences are
not always helpful in some critical situation. The family should consider the patient’s condition
and accept the legality of the treatment.

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END-OF-LIFE CARE TREATMENT OF ELDER PEOPLE
order, D. (2020). Do-not-resuscitate order: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Retrieved 29
March 2020, from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000473.htm
Karnik, S. and Kanekar, A., 2016, June. Ethical issues surrounding end-of-life care: a narrative
review. In Healthcare (Vol. 4, No. 2, p. 24). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute.