Reference no: EM134017883

Assignment:

Option 1: Palliative care. The prognosis for this option is 1-3 months, but the patient would be kept comfortable during this time and could do anything they wanted as physically able.

The patient and his parents differ on what which option they prefer. The patient wants to do palliative care. He is tired of fighting and is still slightly traumatized from his first cancer treatment experience. Both of his parents want treatment, but they differ on which they prefer. The father wants to treat with the standard protocol, so they can have a little more time with the patient. They will use that time to have as many experiences as possible. The mother wants to try for the cure, knowing that this means the patient will be in the hospital for a month and then immunocompromised for a year out, where he will not be able to go out of the house much or see any other family/friends. The patient and father argue against this stating that if it doesn't work, they don't want his remaining time to be limited in what he can do or who he can see. They want his remaining time to be quality time. They are also worried about the potential for debilitating long-term side effects.

1. How do you ethically/legally define what is happening in this situation? (In other words, what is the "dilemma"?)

2. That examines all aspects of the dilemma present. Using appropriate ethical and legal principles from all the applicable readings and lectures.