Assignment task:
Mrs. H is a 63-year-old female that has been doing dialysis for the last 5 years and is residing in a nursing home. She has refused to go to dialysis for the last two days. She is becoming confused and is short of breath. Before becoming confused, Mrs. H stated that she was tired of doing the dialysis and no longer wanted to do it. She was aware that she will die without it. Mrs. H's daughter is her durable power of attorney (DPOA). She insists that her mother be sent to the hospital and have the dialysis restarted.
Q1. What is a possible ethical issue with this scenario? (Include both sides)
Q2. What is some legal ramifications of this scenario for the nursing home? (Include the book terminology)
Q3. What is a DPOA? Does the daughter have the right to have her mother now take dialysis?
Q4. What could the healthcare workers do that may improve this situation?