Running head: ETHICAL AND LEGAL DECISION MAKING

Ethical decision
The best ethical decision to make on the issue of whether to allow tube feeding or not to
alloy is to allow tube feeding (Cook, & DeJean, 2009). The request from Ann not to be subjected
to the breathing machine when she worsens is her right according the ethical principle of
autonomy. The principle of autonomy states that a patients choice should always prevail in
decision making as long as the choice involved a person with the sound mind (American Nurses
Association, 2010).
Based on the situation that faces franks family there are two possible ethical decisions
that apply. Initially before taking a patient to a nursing home, the ethical decision that would
have appealed to the patient involves the provision of a home care nurse. The delivery of a
private home care nurse appeals more than taking the patient to the nursing home or medical
facility especially when the disease is terminal. It is ethically right to be fair to others just like
one would want anyone else to do unto them. Based on the ethical principle of fairness and
justice, it becomes unfair for family members to take their patient to a nursing home whereas
they would have just provided a private nurse who would look after the patient. The principle of
fairness states that any decision made by a medical practitioner or any other person should be in
the best interest of the patient. Institutional, professional and personal interests should come after
those of the patient (Beauchamp & Childress, 2001).
Legal decision
Denying a person the right to life in whatever condition or method is illegal (Wood,
2013). The legal decision desirable is to respect the principle of autonomy but again consider the
best for the patient. In that aspect, the nurse should save the life of the patient rather than the

Ethical and Legal Decision Making

request of the patient. It is justified therefore under the principle of fairness and justice to do a
legal thing of saving the patient (Cook, & DeJean, 2009). Providing a feeding through a tube,
therefore, is the most appealing legal decision for the patient.
Another legal decision is the right to pain relief. It is legal rights for a patient to receive
medication that help relieve the pain in the body (Butts, & Rich, 2013). Patients with Alzheimer
experience a period of pain and nurses at this point have the legal right to ensure that the patients
acquire the required medication to reduce pain.
Advice
The most rational decision Sarah and Frank are to allow the feeding of their patient with a tube.
The reason is that tube feeding is not equivalent to the breathing machine that the patient Ann
rejected. It is therefore not against her legal right when the decision to feed her through the tube
get instituted. Moreover permitting the nursing institution to feed the paint with the tube is
ethically and morally right (American Nurses Association, 2010).
According the principle of beneficence and nonmaleficence, any act done to a patient should not
cause harm and should uphold doing well (Woods, 2013). It is, therefore, the duty of Frank and
Sarah to ensure whatever decision they make is of the best benefit. Allowing tube feeding and
initially providing home nursing services are the most ethical decision that both Sarah and Frank
should take.

Ethical and Legal Decision Making

3
References

American Nurses Association. (2010). Nursing's social policy statement: The essence of the
profession. Nursesbooks. org.
Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2001). Principles of Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University
Press, UK.
Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2013). Nursing ethics: Across the curriculum and into practice. Jones
& Bartlett Publishers.
Giacomini, M., Cook, D., & DeJean, D. (2009). Life Support Decision Making in Critical Care:
Identifying and appraising the qualitative research evidence. Critical Care Medicine,
37(4), 1475-1482.
Woods, M. (2012). Exploring the relevance of social justice within a relational nursing ethic.
Nursing Philosophy, 13(1), 56-65.