The Feeding Tube

956 Words4 Pages
June, a 34-year-old divorced woman diagnosed with severe anorexia, is hospitalized. Her doctors feel she may need to be placed on a feeding tube soon to save her life. Initially June agreed to the feeding tube. However, in the evening (before the tube has been placed), she became combative, disoriented, and refused to have the feeding tube placed. Her mother and father insisted that the feeding tube be inserted despite her refusal to allow it. Her ex-husband wishes to uphold June’s decision. The hospital administrators seek risk management for legal counsel. Explain how the Patient Bill of Rights applies to this situation. A Patient’s Bill of Rights was adopted in 1973 by the American Hospital Association in order to be able to provide effective health care services that are fair to both patient and medical personnel. June was hospitalized for severe anorexia and she initially agreed to have a feeding tube placed to save her life. I am sure her physicians informed her of the pros and cons of the placement of the feeding tube. According to the summary of the Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities within our textbook “a patient has the right to refuse treatment” (Showalter, p. 272). When she was in her right state of mind she consented to treatment. Despite her refusal in the evening to allow the placement of the feeding tube, due to her being disoriented and not capable of making proper medical decisions, her physicians would have to wait until she’s coherent to ask her about informed consent, before placing the feeding tube. Therefore, physicians providing June with a “diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks and prognosis” all relate to how the Patient Bill of Rights applies to this situation (Showalter, p. 272). Based on the facts given in the scenario, would the patient be considered competent to decide?
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