Mr. Bains is a 70-year-old man who has been recently diagnosed ...

[imowrer]

Mr. Bains is a 70-year-old man who has been recently diagnosed with colon cancer. Mr. Bains is adamant that he does not want to undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy, citing the unpleasant side effects and the absence of a guaranteed cure.
 
  His wife, however, is distraught
  that he would give up so quickly and begs the nurse to convince him to pursue treatment.
  Which of the following ethical principles would underlie the nurse's decision to respect Mr.
  Bains' informed choice?
 
  A) Beneficence
  B) Nonmaleficence
  C) Fidelity
  D) Autonomy

Question 2

A patient with a long-standing diagnosis of renal failure has declared her intention to stop hemodialysis. Because of the ethical ramifications of this, the care team has begun the process of making an ethical decision. This process should begin by
 
  A) eliciting input from impartial individuals from outside the hospital setting.
  B) explaining the major concepts of ethics to the patient and her family.
  C) clearly identifying the essential elements of the ethical problem.
  D) confirming the patient's cultural and religious background.

[mirabriestensky]

Answer to Question 1

Ans: D
Autonomy involves the right of self-determination or choice, independence, and
freedom. As such, an expression of autonomy would involve respecting the patient's wishes
even if they are unusual or opposed by family members. Beneficence and nonmaleficence
denote doing good and avoiding harm. Fidelity refers to the obligation to be faithful to the
agreements and commitments.

Answer to Question 2

Ans: C
A process for ethical decision-making begins with the clear identification of the
situation at hand. This should precede the involvement of other individuals or an exploration of
the patient's culture and religion. It would not likely be helpful to explain ethical concepts to the
patient.