Mr.

Simms
1

In this stressful situation, it is important to balance Mr. Simms' autonomy and make sure

that his wishes and values are respected, at the same time treat his pain and provide his family

with the needed support. As a healthcare provider, the strategy I would adopt would be multi-

pronged and responsive to the complicated emotional and ethical issues.

I would start the discussion by listening carefully to what Mr. and Mrs. Simms have to

say, from their perspective, learning their goals for Mr. Simms' care. I would stress the necessity

of pain management as a way of improving his comfort and quality of life, I would also discuss

the possible side effects of pain relief medication as well as address any misconceptions or fears

he might have (Groenewald et al., 2022).

In regard to the management of pain, I would enlighten them on different pain

management methods including non-opioid alternatives and methods for reducing the side

effects of opioids like drowsiness (Alorfi, 2023). It is necessary to consider Mr. Simms in

decisions concerning his pain management, taking into account his autonomy and his right to

fully inform decisions about his care.

In case Mr. Simms tries to avoid taking opioid painkillers, the approaches for pain

management can include the non-pharmacological interventions or lower doses medication for

pain relief or simultaneous adjunct therapies. Besides that I will empathize with him and his

wife, giving them emotional support and counseling them through the difficult situation, helping

them to be more comfortable with the issues they are facing and to feel free to talk about it.
 Mr. Simms
2

Finally, in response to Mrs. Simms' suggestion that such a thing should be done without

the knowledge of Mr. Simms I would very politely talk to her about the ethical and legal

implications of such actions suggesting the fundamental role of confidentiality and respect in

their relationship and in healthcare provision in general. In this respect, I will be making sure to

offer assistance and guidance to the patient on the progression of their disease while I safeguard

the ethical standards and maintain Mr. Simms' autonomy and dignity.
 Mr. Simms
3

References

Alorfi, N. M. (2023, July). Pharmacological Methods of Pain Management: Narrative Review of

Medication Used. International Journal of General Medicine, Volume 16, 3247–3256.

https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s419239

Groenewald, C. B., Murray, C. B., Battaglia, M., Scaini, S., & Quinn, P. D. (2022, February 7).

Prevalence of Pain Management Techniques Among Adults With Chronic Pain in the

United States, 2019. JAMA Network Open, 5(2), e2146697.

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.46697