A terminal patient with a fulminating leg wound needs surgery, yet it is unlikely the patient will survive the procedure. The nurse could ethically support which action by the health care team?

Question

1. Explaining that the surgery is needed and every effort will be done to keep the patient alive
2. Deciding not to conduct the surgery and determining if there are other treatment approaches
3. Telling the patient that offering surgery was an error and that treatment will be done with medications and therapy
4. Conducting the surgery without telling the patient that survival is unlikely.

Answer 1

2
Rationale 1: The surgery should not be done with the promise of keeping the patient alive. If the patient is likely to die, this violates the ethical principle of veracity.
Rationale 2: Surgical intervention is stressful and painful. If the patient is not likely to survive the surgery, it should not be performed. The ethical action is to determine if other treatment approaches exist.
Rationale 3: Lying to the patient is not ethical and should not be supported by the nurse.
Rationale 4: This is unethical conduct. The patient should be taken to surgery only if informed consent is valid.