Ethical issues in caring for people with carotid artery rupture

Nurses working in the head and neck oncology field will be conscious of the possible risk of carotid artery rupture in their patients. This complication occurs swiftly and the patient requires the nurse to rapidly change focus from acute care and cure to palliative care and comfort. Prior decisions need to be made as to whether or not active resuscitation is to be undertaken. In this final article, the ethical issues surrounding this decision-making process are discussed, including patient autonomy, advocacy, beneficence and justice. The facts as they relate to each individual patient should be discussed truthfully and openly with them and their significant others. Each person should be assisted to come to his own decision, following discussion of the prognosis and risks that are pertinent to that individual. Respect for the autonomy of patients should be a guiding principle governing the conduct of decisions.