Patient Diagnosed With Cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Patient Diagnosed With Cancer - Essay Example Tabitha is a 1-year-old patient who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and has received two courses of chemotherapy. She understands and respects every decision with regards to treatment and is due to have another round of chemotherapy. The treatment can make a 30% chance of survival or approximately two years. Without this, Tabitha will die within three months. Tabitha has a good relationship with the clinical team. She also has a supportive family and friends all throughout the treatment. She attends the local school when she is not sick and lives with her brothers and parents. The ethical dilemma started when Tabitha refused consent chemotherapy because of being fed up in the hospital to receive unpleasant treatments. According to the ANMC National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse Section 2.3 (2008), a registered nurse practices in a way that acknowledge the dignity, culture, values, beliefs, and rights of individual groups, including the consideration of individ ual/group preferences when providing care (p. 3). Respecting Tabitha’s refusal to treatment is in line with the practice of professional and ethical nursing framework; however, doing so might sacrifice the safety of Tabitha and death within three months. The legal issue in this case study centered on Tabitha’s right to make a decision. Although she is mature enough to understand the treatment and her parents are supportive of the decision to refuse chemotherapy, she is still a 16-year-old patient.