Basic Nursing 1st Edition by Judith Wilkinson, Leslie Treas

Exercise 12

Patient Situation
You are caring for a 90-year-old patient in a long-term care facility. He is completely dependent for activities of daily living. In addition, he has been unresponsive, cannot swallow safely, and for many months has been receiving fluids and nutrition through a feeding tube. His adult grandson has recently discovered a living will, in which the patient had stated that he does not wish to be kept alive by "artificial means, including being tube fed." The grandson, John, insists that the patient's wishes be honored, but the patient's son (Mr. Lee) threatens a lawsuit if the caregivers discontinue the feedings. They argue loudly, and Mr. Lee yells to his son, "You just want him gone because you're in a hurry to get his money! You know you're getting the major part of it."
Thinking
Critical Thinking (Analyzing Assumptions): Without thinking too carefully about it, what is your first thought about what is causing the disagreement between Mr. Lee and his son, John? Examine your assumption. How certain are you it is true? What else might be going on in their lives to cause father and son to disagree on this issue?