Question

A 12-year child with a terminal diagnosis of sarcoma of the arm has a large suppurating wound that has a foul odor and drains constantly, damaging the surrounding skin. The wound is painful and requires painful dressings daily. Her life expectancy is 6 months to a year. A surgical procedure could remove most of the tumor and facilitate closing of the skin. The surgery would not improve the child’s prognosis or extend her life. It would reduce the pain, eliminate the odor, decrease or eliminate the dressing changes and allow better use of the affect arm. The child is refusing the surgery. The parents understand the hoped for improved quality of life and can see the benefit of the surgery. However, they are reluctant to approve the procedure since the child has had multiple other procedures and is afraid and doesn’t want the surgery. They are strongly considering allowing the child to make the decision. What rights are in conflict and which right should prevail? What other information might you need to make a decision? What is the right (adjective) thing to do?

Answer 1

It should be made ensure that the decision regarding surgery should be decided after discussion among family members.

The girl already know about her condition that she is not having longer life. Already she faced many surgeries and she was completely in despair and further don't want to trouble herself with all these procedures when there is no hope of living for longer.

From parents point if view they know all the outcomes after surgery but still they insist her daughter so that she will be free from that pain as well odour and to reduce the dressings.

Both point of view are correct. The parents should try to explain their child that they want to see her happy atleast for few months hoping for the best to happen.