A resident who was dying slowly of congestive heart failure developed apathy in addition to dyspnea, profound fatigue, and loss of appetite. The nursing facility staff and attending physician believed that they had addressed the dyspnea and fatigue and surveyors agreed, but they disagreed about how the facility had managed the apathy and loss of an appetite which resulted in a decline in activities of daily living and weight loss. The facility attributed these symptoms to a natural end-of-life disengagement, but the surveyors argued that the comprehensive assessment failed to address the possibility of depression and that the care plan failed to offer treatment for it. The resident's decline was considered avoidable, and the facility was cited.

Explanation:

the family of a resident who was dying slowly of congestive heart failure should have to present the case to the legal and health authorities. They should also file for the case regarding the negligence of duties of the surveyors who conducted the study. The facility must be advisable to provide the official statement regarding the case of this patient. It would be their duties and responsibility to conduct further investigation that would address this case. The survey team or facility must have to provide the most reliable and accurate data by means of using the health information record of the patient that will prove this case. The facility is responsible for this case of the patient, and they must provide the quality health care services needed to address the issue. Therefore, the family of the resident may also be advised or recommended to present the case in the legal and health authorities to resolve the issues.

I need additional information. My question is how would ethics help in the assessment of this situations? How can we determine what is morally right in these two cases with the help of the moral theories (Utilitarian and deontology)?

Thank you.