Introduction
In cases when the case workers for renal dialysis are faced with numerous issues touching their ethical capabilities they are required to make proper decisions. Common ethical cases that they often face encompass life prolongation, self-determination, adequacy of resources, as well as practices and policies of hospital insurance. These, in essence, require them to make correct decisions since they compromise the standards of social duties.
In this paper, I have given an outline of a case study that requires proper decision making. This involves giving an extensive analysis of the different stances assumed by the parties involved in the case study. The paper, therefore, gives the role-playing approach, which involves assuming the roles played by the characters (Kardauskas, 2005).
The story involves five main characters – Mrs. B, her mother, a son, physician, and the son’s attorney. Having been divorced and suffering from a renal disease, Mrs. B decides to inform the physician that she would prefer terminating her life. She discusses the matter with her mother, whom she believes would take care of her son.
Role Playing
She already in the later stages of the disease and with very little support from her mother, it is likely that there would be no enough funds to cater for the medical bills. Besides her ex-husband already abandoning his parental rights, she is, equally, doing nothing to support her son due to her compromising health conditions. Therefore, he would still be cared for by the grandmother.
Mother
Whilst she is ready to continue taking of her grandson, Mrs. B’s mother is startled by her daughter’s decision to terminate medication. She thinks that Mrs. B is giving up too soon and that 38 years old is a still a young age. She believes that not even the religious doctrines allow such an act.
Assuming her role, I would try to encourage and convince Mrs. B to keep up the struggle and that recovering would still be possible. On the other hand, I would consider her mission due to the fact that she will be relieved of the pains she has undergone over the years. On the religious front, euthanasia is allowed and, therefore, I would take it if Mrs. B is terminating her medication on a good course.
Physician
The physician is well aware of Mrs. B’s condition of health and even the measures that can help prolong rather than terminate her life. Assuming that role, I would let her know that her condition is only critical, but not hazardous. Whilst she cannot be subjected to transplantation of renal due to the diabetic conditions, she would properly survive on dialysis for a long period of time.
Attorney
Perhaps, the one with the trickiest role of informing Mrs. B’s son about the whole ordeal is the attorney. Being only eight years old, it would be hard to make him understand the situation. Perhaps, telling him that his mother needs to be rescued from the pain by terminating her medication would reduce the task.
References
Mary A. Kardauskas (2005). When Living Feels Like Dying: Ethical Decision Making with a Depressed Dialysis Client. Rothman.
