Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Ethics in a Geriatrics Case. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page research paper that discusses the ethics in a hypothetical scenario that involves an elderly incompetent woman and conflicts of interest in her family's decision-making ability and in the situation of the surgeon who says that amputation of her feet for gangrene is required to save her life. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khganeth.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
order to save her life. The patient has rejected having any surgical procedures and her family supports this decision, also refusing consent, because they fear that the surgeons motivation in
wanting the amputation is in order to provide research on a new post-amputation experimental medication. On the other hand, the patients death will mean considerable financial gain for her family,
as opposed to a financial drain caused by care for an Alzheimers patient. There are several ethical dilemmas involved in this case. First of all, there is the perception
on the part of the patients family that concerning the surgeons motivations. There is the potential for a "conflict of interest" when a doctor is actively participating in objective research
protocols" and also receiving compensation for the research being conducted (Goldner, 2000, p. 379). A physician are "expected to attend solely to the welfare of the individual patient" (Goldner, 2000,
p. 379). Therefore, the first dilemma to be addressed should be for the physician to be forthright with the patients family concerning any relationship that he or she has to
the pharmaceutical company developing the post-amputation medication. Hopefully, this will show that the surgeon is only considering the welfare of Ms. Alexander. Having reassured the patients family that the only
factors being considered are those pertaining to the welfare of the patient, the surgeon then should make a viable case that amputation is the best course of treatment for stopping
the progression of gangrene. There is also a conflict of interests and an ethical dilemma in the fact that family members stand to gain financially from Ms. Alexanders death.
Bopp and Coleson (1996) point out that the empowerment of family members as proxy decision-makers for an incompetent relative, while often quite helpful, can also entail problems that are due
...