Assignment:
Discussion post instructions
You, a respected physician and ethicist, are called to the examination room of 12 year old Kimberly to provide an ethics consult. Kimberly was in a car accident last year that scarred her lungs. Kimberly's mother is convinced that a lung transplant is the best course of action for Kimberly, as it will allow her to play soccer again. Kimberly's father, a respected community member, says that the risks of the surgery and the burden of immunosupressent medication is not worth the added physical fitness as Kimberly can still walk without additional oxygen. Kimberly's mother accuses him of not wanting the surgery due to the financial burden ($1,500 a month until they reach the yearly $10,000 deductible).
When you leave the room to think about your decision, you are met by your colleague in transplant. He tells you that Kimberly is a great surgical candidate and will see benefit, but that he is concerned that the impending divorce of Kimberly's parents is impacting their decision making. Additionally, he tells you that Kimberly's mother was driving the car when Kimberly was injured, and that she has expressed considerable guilt that she caused her daughter's injury.
What is your recommendation to the family? What recommendations do you make to the surgeon and hospital to reduce liability? How do you justify your decision?
Please choose a position and post a 500 (or more) word discussion post outlining your position. Make sure to consider all sides of the prompt.