Case study project

Use The Seven-Step Decision Model

The Case of David Z. and amyotrophi Lateral sclerosis ALS:

David, who has suffered with ALS for 20 years, is now hospitalized in a private religious hospital on a respirator. He spoke with his physician before he became incapacitated and asked that he be allowed to die if the suffering became too much for him. The physician agreed that, while he would not give David any drugs to assist a suicide, he would discontinue David's respirator if asked to do so. David has now indicated through a prearranged code of blinking eye movements that he wants the respirator discontinued. David had signed his living will before he became ill, indicating that he did not want extraordinary means keeping him alive. The nursing staff has alerted the hospital administrator about the impending discontinuation of the respirator. The administrator tells the physician that this is against the hospital's policy. She states that once a patient is placed on a respirator, the family must seek a court order to have him or her removed from this type of life support. In addi-tion, it is against hospital policy to have any staff members present during such a procedure. After consulting with the family, the physician orders an ambulance to transport the patient back to his home, where the physician discontinues the life support. 1. What were the primary concerns of the hospital? 2. What was the physician's primary concern? 3. When should the discussion about the patient's future plans have taken place with the hospital administrato