Category / Case Studies / End of Life Ethics
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The Case of Jesse, Unrepresented and Homeless
A 60-year-old homeless man, “Jesse,” is found confused and in distress by a passerby who calls 911. Paramedics bring the man to the hospital. Jesse’s feet and legs are swollen and covered in ulcers and dead tissue—diagnosed as osteomyelitis, or infection of his legs.
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The Case of Joe
“Joe” is a 62-year-old building contractor who has been in an ICU for the past 10 weeks. He had gone to his community hospital for bypass surgery (CABG) and aortic valve repair (AVR), and things didn’t go well post-op. His sternal wound became infected with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
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The Case of Sepsis in a Newborn
The “Clinical Moment” in Short Bowel Syndrome: What Can We Do, What Should We Do?
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The Case of Teresa: Patient Vulnerability from a System’s Failure to Protect
A framework of general strategies to help vulnerable persons should explore responses that will help individual patients, improve professional and organizational responses to vulnerable patients, and mitigate the negative effects of public policies that affect vulnerable persons.
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Case Study: Theresa – I Don’t Pray, I Paint
A person choosing to deal with difficult times in their own way.
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The Case of Sheila and Nick: Medical and Ethical Experiences at the VA
A play written with the purpose of dramatizing healthcare in society.
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The Case of Russell: Adults with Disabilities as Essential Partners in Their Healthcare
A man who went through many unfavorable health circumstances that result in him being an advocate for his health.
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The Case of Megan and Ken: Confidentiality of a Diagnosis
The last five years have been difficult for Megan and Ken, their relationship held together through their commitment to get the children launched before going their separate ways. To others who know them, they are a model all-American family. Ken is a successful insurance executive; Megan is completing her master’s degree in social work.
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The Case of Jimmy: Out of Hospital DNRs for School-Aged Children
Jimmy is twelve years old, bright, interacts well with teachers and other students, and really likes to go to school. However, his osteosarcoma has advanced to a terminal stage, and Jimmy and his parents have agreed together with the hospice team that any resuscitation attempt would be unwanted and unwarranted.
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The Case of Pat: Unprepared to Talk About Dying
Pat B. had never talked with her father about dying. Even when he was older and had remarried after her mother’s death, there seemed no opportunity conducive for such a talk.
