Health Care Law - Explain How the Patient Bill of Rights Applies to This Case

1. Explain how the patient Bill of Rights applies to this case.

The provider has to respect the dignity of the patient by being considerate and caring. The patient should not be discriminated against. Second, the patient has the right to and is encouraged to obtain from physicians and other direct caregivers relevant, current, and understandable information concerning diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis (Fermgen, 2009).

Every patient has the right to be informed on any issue that they are faced with unless it is in an emergency. This also fall under know and accepting your provider. The patient has the choice to pick who they would like and would not like to see. Third, the patient has the right to make a decisions about the plan of care prior to and during the course of treatment and to refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy and to be informed of medical consequences of this action (Fremgen, 2009).

Patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care when appropriate and to be informed by physicians and other caregivers of available and realistic patient care options when hospital care is no longer appropriate. The patient has the right to be informed of hospital policies and practices that related to patent care, treatment, and responsibilities (Fermgen 2009). Nurse Nancy is violating the Patient Bill of Rights because Mrs. Jones did not make her own decision to end her life as a form of treatment.

Mrs. Jones has the right to be involved in every aspect of treatment and can refuse treatment at any time. The patient is expecting reasonable continuity of care even though she might die. The patient's doctor is supposed to inform Mrs. Jones if her condition is worsening and if she needs to seek different treatment options. Nurse Nancy did not ask the patient if she wanted to die, she just assumed because the patient is very ill that she may want to end her life.

2. Identify and explain at least three ethical considerations.

Ethically it is a nurse's job to help the doctor preserve a patient's life. However, Nurse Nancy is the one that is with Mrs. Jones more and sees the drastic effect that the cancer has taken on her. Nurse Nancy has compassion for Mrs. Jones and knows that she is suffering from cancer, so to alleviate the pain she wants to help her end her life. Nurse Nancy needs to ask Mrs. Jones if she wants to die early because of her status as a single mom. In the event that Mrs. Jones does want Nurse Nancy to help her end her life she will need to make preparations for the care of child.

Secondly, is it right for nurse Nancy to try and play GOD and end Mrs. Jones life? How does she know that she won't get better? There may be new treatment that Mrs. Jones can try to help her live a few more years for her child's sake. "There is a difference between passive and active killing and what nurse Nancy wants to do is considered active killing. Passive killing is a patient refusing treatment that leads to them dying and active is Nurse Nancy assisting in giving the patient and overdose of a narcotic to kill herself. Morally it is wrong to assist a patient in killing themselves" (2008).

Finally, there is a potential for abuse by patients that want assisted suicide. Some patients might consider this option as a way to end their life if they are depressed, lacking access to care and support. Medical expenses for terminally ill patients can be expensive, especially depending on the treatment options that the patient chooses. "Burden family members and patients may choose assisted suicide as a cost-containment strategy. This is why assisted suicide needs to remain illegal because people will be using the hospital as a place to go to die and not get help" (2008).

3. Identify and explain at least three legal considerations.

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