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Course: Wireless Philosophy > Unit 6
Lesson 3: Healthcare relationships: Should healthcare decisions be up to the patient?Evaluating the argument
Should Healthcare Decisions Be Up to the Patient?
Evaluate and discuss the argument presented in this video.
Suppose a patient who has been suffering from chronic, debilitating back pain for many months has already tried various non-invasive treatments with no success and is now speaking with his doctor about the possibility of spine surgery. Aware that the patient is a Jehovah’s Witness, the doctor explains that the surgery has a very high success rate but involves significant blood loss that, in 30% of cases, requires a blood transfusion. No longer able to deal with the incapacitating pain—and having given up hope for alternatives—the patient decides that he wants the surgery anyway, but insists that he not be given a blood transfusion even if it’s needed to save his life.
If the doctor is unable to convince her patient to agree to the transfusion, what should she do?
Consider the following range of opinions on this question:
- The doctor should follow the patient’s wishes. She should proceed with the surgery, knowing that she must absolutely refrain from giving the patient a blood transfusion—even if this means letting him die.
- The doctor should proceed with the surgery under false pretenses. She should make sure the patient agrees to the surgery—even if this requires saying she’ll respect his wishes about blood transfusion despite knowing she must disregard these wishes if his life depends on it.
- The doctor should refuse to do the surgery under these conditions. The patient won’t consent to the surgery unless the doctor promises not to give him a blood transfusion. If he ends up needing a transfusion to survive the surgery, she must give it to him—and she shouldn’t lie to him about this.
Now, take some time - by yourself or with others - to reflect openly, yet critically, on the ethical considerations raised by the various perspectives, and determine where you stand on this issue. What do YOU think, and why?
Want to join the conversation?
1) The doctor should follow the patient’s wishes. She should proceed with the surgery, knowing that she must absolutely refrain from giving the patient a blood transfusion—even if this means letting him die.
Even if the doctor does not agree with their patient's decision they still have to respect it, even if doing so can lead to a fatal result.(2 votes)