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Can nurses contribute to better end-of-life care?
1School of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, University of Tasmania at Hobart, Australia.
Nursing Ethics
|September 15, 2000
Summary
Futile medical care, especially in intensive care units, is ineffective and harmful. Nurses can prevent futile care by facilitating patient care conferences to ensure appropriate palliative care for dying patients and their families.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Palliative Care
- Nursing Practice
Background:
- Futile medical and nursing care presents ethical challenges in intensive care settings.
- Such care can be detrimental to patients and healthcare professionals.
- Nurses play a crucial role in preventing the provision of futile care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To argue that futile care is not only ineffective but also harmful.
- To highlight the significant role of nurses in preventing futile care.
- To propose a method for transitioning to appropriate palliative care.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of futile care within intensive care units.
- Analysis of the ethical arguments presented by nurse ethicists Carol Taylor and Colleen Scanlon.
- Proposal for convening 'patient care conferences'.
Main Results:
- Futile care is identified as inefficacious and potentially harmful to patients and clinicians.
- Nurses' clinical expertise is vital for preventing futile care.
- Patient care conferences can resolve conflicting expectations and lead to appropriate palliative care.
Conclusions:
- Preventing futile care is essential for ethical patient and professional well-being.
- Nurses are key in identifying and mitigating futile care situations.
- Effective communication and palliative care planning are crucial for the dying process.
Keywords:
Death and Euthanasia