Ethical and Legal Issues Related to Pain Management in Children
Ethical and Legal Issues Related to Pain Management in Children ( 25 Questions)
The child's parents have requested that the pain relief medications be minimized due to their concerns about potential side effects.
The nurse is faced with a challenging ethical dilemma, needing to balance the child's pain relief with the parents' wishes.
Which of the following actions by the nurse best demonstrates ethical decision-making in this situation?
Administering the pain relief medications as prescribed, disregarding the parents' concerns, is not a demonstration of ethical decision-making. It does not consider the parents' wishes or the need for shared decision-making in the child's care.
Discussing the potential side effects and benefits of pain relief medications with the parents to reach a shared decision is the most ethical approach. It respects the parents' concerns while also ensuring that the child receives appropriate pain relief. Shared decision-making is a crucial component of ethical healthcare practice.
Withholding all pain relief medications to honor the parents' request completely is not ethical and may lead to unnecessary suffering for the child. It does not strike a balance between respecting the parents' wishes and ensuring the child's well-being.
Consulting the hospital's legal department to overrule the parents' decision is not the best approach. It should be reserved for situations where a child's life is in immediate danger or when there is a clear conflict of interest. In this case, the ethical approach is to engage in open communication and shared decision-making with the parents.
Choice A rationale:
Administering the pain relief medications as prescribed, disregarding the parents' concerns, is not a demonstration of ethical decision-making.
It does not consider the parents' wishes or the need for shared decision-making in the child's care.
Choice B rationale:
Discussing the potential side effects and benefits of pain relief medications with the parents to reach a shared decision is the most ethical approach.
It respects the parents' concerns while also ensuring that the child receives appropriate pain relief.
Shared decision-making is a crucial component of ethical healthcare practice.
Choice C rationale:
Withholding all pain relief medications to honor the parents' request completely is not ethical and may lead to unnecessary suffering for the child.
It does not strike a balance between respecting the parents' wishes and ensuring the child's well-being.
Choice D rationale:
Consulting the hospital's legal department to overrule the parents' decision is not the best approach.
It should be reserved for situations where a child's life is in immediate danger or when there is a clear conflict of interest.
In this case, the ethical approach is to engage in open communication and shared decision-making with the parents.