Write a 1,250-1,500 word paper in which you address the ethical and legal application in the
following scenario:
Scenario: You are a hospital administrator who has been told by your ICU unit director of a patient in
the unit who has suffered serious brain damage from a car accident 2 days ago and is currently
intubated. The patient is 45 years old but does not currently meet the criteria for complete brain
death as defined by Arizona state legislature "4-1107. Determination of Death and Status; Rules."
The spouse of the patient has consulted with the attending physician. The attending physician
informed the spouse that the patient could survive but would likely require life support. Half of the
family is insisting that the patient "wouldn't want to live this way" and the other half is accusing the
other family members of wanting to "kill" the patient. Some allegations have been raised about a
substantial inheritance for some family members upon the patient's death. The battle is becoming
intense, and it is beginning to disrupt the medical and nursing staff.
- Describe the medical care issues involved in this situation.
- Explain which laws and regulations apply to this situation. How would you interpret these laws
and regulations when making a decision? - Describe the ethical issues that may arise based on your decision as the administrator.
- Explain how you can ensure appropriate implementation of supporting policies and procedures in
order to ensure ethical integrity. - What policies and procedures would you consider when making your decision? How would you
ensure these procedures were followed correctly? - What resources could you use to support your decision?