Question

An adult patient is a member of a religion that does not believe in receiving blood. The patient receives a colostomy and begins hemorrhaging. He is unable to voice his objections to receiving blood. You know of this patient’s strong beliefs and that he does not want to receive blood. On the admission sheet, the area for religion is blank. He has no family. The nurses and doctors want to give blood, and you do not want him to die.

pls answer all these 4 questions

1. Do either Living Wills or Durable Power of Attorney apply in this case? Explain.
2. What are the legal and ethical implications if the patient is a minor and the parents refuse blood?
3. What should you do? Ethically support your viewpoint.
4. What are the ethical dilemmas and legal implications if he receives blood?

Answer 1

Ans. (2)- Regarding a case where the patient is a minor, would hold similar ethical issues but legal implications would hold strong due to the patient being a minor. All legal decisions are to be made by the parent or guardian. If the blood transfusion is refused by the parents, doctors can not transfuse the blood to the patient regarding any case.

Ans. (3)- Although, you may know of the patient's strong religious beliefs, he has not documented this on the admission sheet. Considering that this is an emergency for the patient, both ethical and moral standards should be used to save the life of the patient. As the physician or nurse, performing the blood transfusion to save the life of the patient is the ethical thing to do.

Ans. (4)-Yes, after he has received the blood, there can be an ethical and legal implications. Pertaining to the ethical dilemma would be regarding the patient's religious belief as to whether he would be able to belong to his religion after receiving the transfusion. Also, if the patient were to file a case against the physician or hospital, the legal implication would be neglected because he had not refused the blood transfusion or indicated on the admission sheet of his religion.