ETHICS AT THE BEDSIDE: ADVOCACY FOR THE PATIENT AND THE COST

Abstract

As a healthcare professional at the bedside, it has been very difficult to advocate for the patient while all parties involved cannot respect what the patient wants. Four out of five Americans do not have an advance directive. The history and court cases that have led the country to make patient’s right to make their own healthcare decisions has been decades in the making, yet still bring daily challenges within the healthcare system. When a patient’s wishes are not being honored, medical futility may lead to moral distress and compassion fatigue. Institutions provide multidisciplinary teams to address these issues, but if a patient’s capacity or competence is in question, their voice may not be heard. The toll on the healthcare provider and the patient can be permanently damaging, causing many nurses to leave the profession all together. I will attempt to determine the barriers to implementing the patient’s wishes, address the syndrome of moral distress among healthcare professionals, and attempt to offer solutions to promote well rounded, patient-centered care.