The primary health care provider
goal is to restore patients' health as possible by maximizing benefits and
minimizing harm. Accordingly if treatment failed, the harm or burden will be
more than benefits. On the other hand, if the competent patient refused
treatment; that treatment is no longer justified. Unfortunately, many
physicians do not know their patients’ preferences for resuscitation, and many
patients have a poor understanding of their own resuscitation order.
Nurses as an essential part of
the health care provider have always been beside of dying patients, their roles
in providing the maximum
quality of care and support for the remaining lifetime for both patients
and their loved ones is traditional and expected. The nurse’s loyalty to the
patient requires an expertise in the relief of physical, emotional, or
spiritual suffering, which means the nurse’s roles in discussions end of life
choices with patients is imminent.
Death is defined in Black’s Law
Dictionary as an irreversible cessation of the vital functions, signs,
circulation, and pulsation. For that if your patient stops breathing or their
heart stops beating in the hospital, it is generally felt that the morally best
approach is to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). However, success is
not always possible, and not uncommon, this procedure is associated with a high
level of morbidity but it's must be ethically justified.
