Question

Jimmy Chang, a 20-year-old college student is admitted to your institution for additional chemotherapy. Jimmy was diagnosed with Leukemia 5 years earlier and has had several courses of chemotherapy. He is currently in an acute phase of the disease, though he enjoyed a 14-month remission phase prior to this admission. His parents, who accompany him to the hospital are divided as to the benefits of additional chemotherapy. His mother is adamant that she will sign the informed consent for this course of therapy and his father is equally adamant that he will refuse to sign the informed consent form because “Jimmy has suffered enough.”

You are his primary nurse and must assist in somehow resolving this impasse.

What do you do about the informed consent form?

Who signs and why?

Using the MORAL model, decide the best course of action for Jimmy from an ethical perspective rather than a legal perspective.

Did you come to the same conclusion using both an ethical and a legal approach

Answer 1

Informed consent is a form which ensures that the patient or the family members in case of minor provides their consent for a procedure or treatment .It is a must to sign prior to the procedure.

The patient can provide consent as he is an adult (20years)

The best coarse of action for Jimmy from ethical point of view is by informing him about the benefits of the chemotherapy now and getting consent to start the treatment .

The conclusion cannot be same because ethically for the betterment of patient condition the chemotherapy is needed but legally both the parents are having difference of opinion which can lead to legal consequences in future if their son develops reactions to the treatment.