Case Study:
Case Analysis on Ethical Theory
Review the case and identify which ethical theory is in place. Provide your impression by responding to the questions below. This commentary should be at least 3 to 5 pages, with supporting references in APA format.
"Oscar Ramirez, a 55-year-old patient of Mexican descent, presented with a large growth in his throat. He was told that the growth was cancerous. Mr. Ramirez was also told that he would need to have the tumor removed and start an aggressive round of chemotherapy. Mr. Ramirez agreed to the proposed treatment. However, Ramirez's wife and children told the oncologist that complete truthfulness would devastate him and that it was their duty to protect him. They supported this claim by saying that their background required that "la familia" take this protective role. They added that their culture does not place the same value on the individual's control of his own life that most Americans do. Thus, when the tumor could not be completely removed, Mr. Ramirez was merely told that his recovery would be lengthy and that much treatment would be needed to keep the cancer from recurring. Because of great skill in deception and a tightly orchestrated effort to conceal the truth, Oscar Ramirez died without ever being told of his terminal illness" (Levine, 2007, p. 35).
- Which ethical theory or theories are demonstrated in this case? Were the patient's best interests met? Why or why not? What theories were violated and why? Was this situation handled correctly by health professionals? What should have been done differently and why?
Reference:
Levine, C. (2007). Taking sides: Clashing views on bioethical issues (12 ed.). Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin Publication Group.