Multiprofessional Critical Care Review: Adult (2023)-3: Ethical Challenges and How to Approach Them (Elaine Chen, MD)

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses various ethical dilemmas that can arise in clinical practice. They highlight the importance of clear communication and shared decision-making between healthcare professionals, patients, and families. The speaker presents three case scenarios to illustrate different situations. The first case involves an elderly man with COVID-19 pneumonia who has poor prognosis but his family wants aggressive treatment. The second case involves an elderly woman with metastatic ovarian cancer who is in pain and wants to die peacefully, but her family wants aggressive measures. The third case involves an elderly man who had a stroke and is unresponsive. The family requests compassionate extubation but is concerned about euthanasia. The speaker emphasizes the importance of respecting patient autonomy, considering patient values and goals, and providing appropriate symptom management. They also discuss the principle of double effect, which allows for the use of medications to relieve suffering even if it may unintentionally hasten death. Ultimately, the speaker highlights the need for good communication, ethical decision-making, and self-care to prevent moral distress and burnout in healthcare professionals.

Keywords

ethical dilemmas

clinical practice

clear communication

shared decision-making

patient autonomy

symptom management

moral distress

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