An ethical dilemma involving a Shy-Drager patient: a case study

Shy-Drager syndrome, one type of multisystem atrophy, is considered a Parkinson's-plus syndrome. Survival time is less than a decade from the onset of symptoms, and patients usually become physically dependent and wheelchair bound years before death. Ethical dilemmas are very common in health care. In many cases, an ethics consultation is required to resolve complex issues. The ethics committee is guided toward a decision by application of universal ethical principles. Nurses can serve as a patient's advocate, as they are the ones providing direct care and forming relationships with the patient. In many cases, conversations between nurse and patient become pertinent information the ethics team can use to resolve ethical dilemmas.