Treating an intervention level 1 patient: futile or brave?
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Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Medpharm Publications (Pty) Ltd
Abstract
An ethical dilemma describes conflicting opinions by different members of the care team. This article focuses on AJ, a five-year-old child
with cerebral palsy, who was born deaf and blind as a result of having contracted rubella in utero. The case is examined against Sokol’s
four-quadrant analysis of ethical issues, giving a framework designed to facilitate the systematic identification and analysis of clinical ethical
problems. The issue is whether the medical team should have palliated AJ, or continued with invasive therapy and feeding. The conclusion is
that paediatric palliative care is often difficult, but that the dietitian has a duty to contribute his or her knowledge to benefit the patient.
Description
Keywords
Palliative care, Ethics, Care team, Intervention level 1
Citation
Solomons, N. & Nortje, N. (2013). Treating an intervention level 1 patient: futile or brave? South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 26(4): 176-180