Ethical Considerations in Healthcare: A Case Study on Tyrell's Case

This case study analyzes the ethical dilemmas presented in Tyrell's case, focusing on the complexities of patient autonomy, parental consent, and the nurse's role in navigating treatment decisions. The assignment examines the concept of a mature minor, evaluating whether Tyrell possessed the capacity to make his own healthcare choices, and discusses the court's decision to deny him this right. It explores the nurse's responsibilities in managing conflicts between parents and their child, emphasizing the importance of respecting patient wishes while advocating for the child's best interests. The case also considers scenarios involving Jehovah's Witness parents and the implications for medical treatment, as well as the nurse's approach to addressing parental refusal of proposed care. The assignment further addresses the significance of cultural diversity, alternative treatments, and the nurse's role in respecting diverse beliefs while ensuring the patient's well-being. The nurse is expected to facilitate communication, provide education, and find compromise to ensure that all parties involved are heard and respected. The case study emphasizes the need for self-reflection and tolerance to maintain a therapeutic relationship, even in challenging situations.

1.
Mature Minor means the patient can make own health decisions may possess out maturity of
choosing or rejecting a particular healthcare treatment, sometimes without the knowledge of
the parents and that should be permitted to do.
Tyrell was not found to be mature minor because he lacked out an understanding of his
situation. The court did not grant him the permission because they thought that he didn’t have
adequate understanding and the court also stated that it removed the decision-making
authority from the treatment away from his parents and to a child protection agency in
attempt to reduce the serious risk of the boy dying if he did not swiftly receive conventional
treatment (Yeo, Moorhouse, Kahn & Rodney, 2010).
2.
Being a nurse between Tyrell’s parents and manage the conflict about what is best for their
children. As a nurse i have the duty to respect the wish of the patient that what he wants and
the wishes are based on the faith, ethinicity and spiritual values of the patient. It is my duty to
respect the patient choice even if i think that the choices made by the patients are not good.
But still these conditions are need to be met in this regard. The person must understand and
should appreciate the relevant information and should decide out freely. If we sum up then
we can say the patient or the parent is to be seen as capable of making valid decision. But the
transfer of the parental values can clearly harm the children and being a nurse I must
advocate for the best interest of the child. Dependent child and the young adolescent should
have the opportunity of decide if they want to accept, revise, or reject the value of the parents.
So, to manage the conflict between Tyrell’s parents and what is best for Tyrell the nurse
should listen to the view of the patient and make their parents understand that Tyrell’s should

be given that treatment which he wants to have and feel comfortable not the treatment that the
parents should suggest for him (Yeo, Moorhouse, Kahn & Rodney, 2010).
3.
If the case was like Jehovah’s witness case where the parents refused to life-sustaining blood
product for their child then Tyrell’s case would have been different as in this scenario the
parents were not interested in giving consent to any of the treatment from to the children and
in this scenario the doctor have the right to go for the treatment process that would be right
for the patient and they can impose the conventional treatment or the unconventional
treatment. In this scenario also the government also have to be very active with their
judgement policies because without the consent of the parents the doctor can continue their
treatment policies and in this scenario the patient consent is the main consent because without
the patient consent the doctor cannot continue the treatment. So, in this case we can say that
the parents cannot interfere in this process and the doctors might continue the treatment (Yeo,
Moorhouse, Kahn & Rodney, 2010).
4.
If I had the opportunity to talk to parents who refused proposed care on the basis of weak
reasons as per my considerations, then firstly I would try to understand that whether the
parents have understood the risks and threats associated with the medical situation of their
son, Tyrell. The time when parents decline for treatment or ineffective care entreated for a
child, the very first we should think why? As in Tyrell’s case, we saw that the clinical team
provided information related to patient condition to Tyrell’s parents, but it is not clear that
whether his parents have understood the underlying threats and urgency related to the
situation. Did they realize that the probability of surviving of their son will be lowered if the

proposed treatment did not take place? Their misunderstanding about the treatment
compelled them to think in a different way and they thought that their decision was correct
and justified. Being a nurse, we know that beneficence is the key concept to protect
vulnerable persons. And as a nurse, my motivation will always stick to the betterment of
Tyrell. So first I would try to make Tyrell’s parents understand his medical condition
properly. I would state about his medical condition in detail and explain to them why this
proposed medical treatment is very important for Tyrell. If they ask any question or
confusion, it is my responsibility to clear them then and there. I would always point my focus
towards Tyrell’s wellbeing and I believe being his parents, they also ultimately want their
son’s betterment. So, after explaining everything, I would allow them time to think over it
and take the best decision for their son’s betterment (Yeo, Moorhouse, Kahn & Rodney,
2010).
5.
We live in a diverse society and there is diversity in every aspect of our society that even
includes the medical sector. Many people, even nurses also keep faith in alternative treatment
which has different treatment methods from the evidence-based, mainstream health care. It is
expected that many people maintain a great hope on complementary and alternative therapy
and being a nurse, it is my responsibility to respect their belief, ideology, and choice. If I
agreed with the decision taken by Tyrell’s parents, I first inform and explain Tyrell about the
decision and risks associated with it. I need to find a way of compromise through dialogue
and education. I would tell to my peers that I took the decision to show respect to the values
and beliefs of their parents. I also tell that conflicts are inevitable but we need to find a way to
get a resolution for it. My self-reflection and tolerance will help me in this way to maintain a
good therapeutic relationship in case of disagreement and turmoil. I will inform Tyrell’s
parents that I agreed with them in order to show respect to their beliefs and choices as they

are the parents of Tyrell. I will also inform them that I will provide my best for the betterment
of Tyrell and also continue to keep informing about his medical condition to his parents (Yeo,
Moorhouse, Kahn & Rodney, 2010).
Reference:
Yeo, M., Moorhouse, A., Kahn, P., & Rodney, P. (2010). Concepts and cases in nursing
ethics (3rd ed., pp. 118-121). Peterborough, Ont.: Broadview Press.