A patient with terminal cancer has requested that any life-prolonging measures be withheld, and this is documented clearly in their advance directive. However, the patient’s family insists on initiating aggressive treatment despite the patient’s wishes. As the nurse caring for the patient, what is the best action to take in this situation?
Contact legal authorities to intervene regarding the family’s insistence on treatment.
Involve the hospital ethics committee to address the conflict between the patient’s wishes and the family’s demands.
Prioritize educating the family on the importance of respecting the patient’s cultural and personal values.
Advocate for the patient's wishes by discussing the advance directive with the family and healthcare team to ensure their preferences are followed.
The correct answer focuses on advocating for the patient’s autonomy and respecting their legally binding wishes, which is a core principle of nursing ethics. It ensures that the patient's preferences, as stated in the advance directive, are upheld. While involving the ethics committee may help mediate family concerns and exploring family dynamics is compassionate, the primary responsibility of the nurse is to adhere to the patient's expressed wishes. Informing legal authorities prematurely is inappropriate unless there is evidence of abuse or other extenuating circumstances warranting such action.
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