Health Care Ethics
Week 6 Assignment - Case Study: Health Care Ethics
Introduction
Read the following case study and respond to the question below.
26-year-old jet pilot and sometime rodeo performer Donald Cowart was standing in a field with his father when there was violent explosion caused by leaking gas. The explosion killed his father and sent Donald, whose body was engulfed in flames, running for half a mile. When a farmer found him, Cowart, who was in excruciating pain from burns covering more than 65 percent of his body, asked for a gun so he could kill himself. The farmer refused his request and called an ambulance. Cowart asked the paramedics not to drive him to the hospital but to leave him in the field to die. They instead administered life-saving measures and took him to the hospital.
Cowart lost both his eyes and all his fingers and unde several operations for skin grafts and amputations. Afté released from the hospital, Cowart attempted suicide se’ times. Eventually, he completed a law degree. Cowart frequentl speaks at medical conferences on issues relating to euthanasia. He still insists that the hospital staff who treated him for his burns violated his right to self-determination in keeping him alive (1).
He still insists that the hospital staff who treated him for his burns violated his right to self-determination in keeping him alive (1).
Question: Should Cowart have been allowed to die when he requested it?
Sources
1. Judith Boss. 2020. Analyzing Moral Issues. p. 144. McGraw-Hill Higher Education 7th edition textbook available at https://www.strayerbookstore.com.
Instructions
Use the Case Study Assignment Template to do the following:
Describe the relevant facts of the case.
Clarify concepts relevant to the case.
Apply a moral standard to the case.
Articulate a conclusion to the stated question.
Include at least two references, such as the textbook and other readings, to support your arguments.
This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards. For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course.
Case Study – Health Care Ethics
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Case Study: Health Care Ethics
Facts
* Donald Cowart had the right to choose what happened to him, even if it meant choosing death.
* Healthcare providers also had an obligation to do no harm to the patient, and this included providing the help the patient needed.
* There was a chance that the injuries Cowart obtained would have left him incapable of doing anything for himself. Thus, giving him medical assistance would have led to him suffering more after healing.
* There was also a possibility of him recovering and doing great things, so denying him care because that is what he wanted while in pain would have been immoral.
Clarification of the Relevant Concept
Every human has the right to live and obtain medical aid. On the other hand, humans should also be aware of their right to refuse medical care when the outcome of the care may lead to more pain (Judith, 2020). In this case, Cowart was in pain and feared that the injury would render him incapacitated. He did not want to receive medical a...
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