Ethical Principles in Decision Making

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Ethical Principles in Decision-Making Page 1 Ethical Principles in Decision-Making Ethical Principles in Decision-Making Page 2 Advance Directives and Ethical Implications Involved There are many important factors that a registered nurse must recognize when applying ethical dilemmas to their decision-making. In the case study, an advanced directive was the main dilemma. An advanced directive gives you several options in how you want your life to be sustained, including whom can make decisions for you when you cannot, and it can be revoked at any point of time. There is certain criterion that needs to be met in order to make it legal in your state. This can be easily found on-line, through an attorney and even through your personal care provider’s office. It is important that someone is aware your wishes and that you keep it readily available in case it is needed. Advance directives, living wills, etc. will vary from state to state. The State of California has a direct website that allows you to file it online through the Secretary of State, which can maintain the advance directive registry as required by Probate Code section 4800. With changing laws it is important to keep up with these issues. This must be the responsibility of the nurse to understand his/her state regulations in this area. The patient in this case study is Mr. E, who seems to have and extensive amount of medical history and also is developmentally delayed yet has in the past signed an advance directive. The advanced directive clearly stated that he did not want to be put on a ventilator or receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If these were his Ethical Principles in Decision-Making Page 3 wishes and the advanced

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