Dnr's Are They Wrong or Right?
Case Study: Mr. Martinez
Brittney Wiggs
PHI 3200
Professor Greig Mulberry
November 28, 2012
Brittney Wiggs
November 28, 2012
PHI 3200
Professor Greig Mulberry
Case Study: Mr. Martinez
The case study goes as such: Mr. Martinez was a seventy-five year old COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patient. He was in the hospital because of an upper respiratory tract infection. He and his wife had already requested that CPR should not be performed if he required it and a DNR is placed in his charts. While in his room on third floor, being maintained with antibiotics, fluids, and oxygen and seemed to be doing better. However, Mr. Martinez’s oxygen was inadvertently turned up, causing him to go into respiratory failure. This scenario in my opinion causes for drastic measures and I personally feel like his wishes should be overthrown by what the caring physician sees ethically and morally right. The doctor should look at all the circumstances in front of themselves and make an ethical decision. Mr. Martinez was previously being treated and had been improving. Although some may argue that he already has a disease that could be terminal. Looking at the bigger picture of the situation that he was being treated for the upper respiratory infection and he was progressing. I believe he should be transferred to intensive care so that his oxygen level can be monitored and his respiratory failure be treated by a ventilator. My ethical reasoning is his health did not decline because of lack of improvement, but because of a medical error that caused the problem. With that being the scenario then every drastic measure should be taken to treat the respiratory failure and get the oxygen levels stable. Even if Mr. Martinez and his wife requested the DNR as well as the do not perform CPR. I feel that it would be unethical to grant his requests knowing the medical error. Some individuals believe that God has control which he does and if a health issue comes up then let
Brittney Wiggs
PHI 3200
Professor Greig Mulberry
November 28, 2012
Brittney Wiggs
November 28, 2012
PHI 3200
Professor Greig Mulberry
Case Study: Mr. Martinez
The case study goes as such: Mr. Martinez was a seventy-five year old COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patient. He was in the hospital because of an upper respiratory tract infection. He and his wife had already requested that CPR should not be performed if he required it and a DNR is placed in his charts. While in his room on third floor, being maintained with antibiotics, fluids, and oxygen and seemed to be doing better. However, Mr. Martinez’s oxygen was inadvertently turned up, causing him to go into respiratory failure. This scenario in my opinion causes for drastic measures and I personally feel like his wishes should be overthrown by what the caring physician sees ethically and morally right. The doctor should look at all the circumstances in front of themselves and make an ethical decision. Mr. Martinez was previously being treated and had been improving. Although some may argue that he already has a disease that could be terminal. Looking at the bigger picture of the situation that he was being treated for the upper respiratory infection and he was progressing. I believe he should be transferred to intensive care so that his oxygen level can be monitored and his respiratory failure be treated by a ventilator. My ethical reasoning is his health did not decline because of lack of improvement, but because of a medical error that caused the problem. With that being the scenario then every drastic measure should be taken to treat the respiratory failure and get the oxygen levels stable. Even if Mr. Martinez and his wife requested the DNR as well as the do not perform CPR. I feel that it would be unethical to grant his requests knowing the medical error. Some individuals believe that God has control which he does and if a health issue comes up then let
References: Edge, R. S., & Groves J. R. (2007). Ethics of health care: A guide for clinical practice. Clifton, NY: Thomson. ISBN: 9781408031766