Marny Lei Ena P.

Cerro CN193, BLOCK 2-E

ASSIGNMENT #1

A) WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS OF TERRI SCHIAVO's CASE?

 The case was quite a convoluted one as it encountered a conflict where Ms. Terri’s
family side where her parents disagreed with the husband’s decision to end the life
care of the patient. Some of these conflicts do happen in a real-life situation where
you in law start to intervene with your decision even if you also do have the legal
right to decide for someone who can’t decide for themselves just like Mr. Michael's
decision for his wife. This was also an interesting case to resolve.

B) SITE AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF DIGNITY IN DEATH AND DYING THAT COULD

HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE SCHIAVO's CASE AND EXPLAIN.
 Dignity in dying is an ethical concept that refers to the end-of-life process of
avoiding more suffering. Removal and insertion of the PEG tube happened a
couple of times this itself damage the patient’s dignity. It looks like instead of
helping your patient to go in peace, you’re just adding up the patient’s pain by
removing and inserting again the medical tube. Euthanasia should have been
done, specifically the passive type of euthanasia where the removal of the life
support machine happens just like what the husband wants. Even I will choose
that decision even if it is hard. No one wants to see their loved ones suffering for
a very long period.
C).IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE NURSES WHO CARED FOR SUCH PATIENT, HOW
WOULD YOU FACE/HANDLE THE DILEMMA?

 Nurses should respect the patient and the family’s decision about ending the life
of the patient by the means of withdrawing all artificial support that his wife has in
order to cease the pain that the patient might be feeling. Nurses don’t have the
right to intervene with the family or the husband’s decision. Though nurses don’t
have the right to make decisions for them we should help them make better choices
or decisions by explaining some circumstances and they should be enlightened
about the case, especially MS. Terri’s family. A responsible nurse who knows
where she should stand will properly explain to the patient’s family and husband
the pros and cons of the patient’s case and the effects if she will continue
depending on a life support machine.