A patient is prescribed medication for the treatment of cancer. The nurse is concerned that administering this medication may have a harmful effect on the patient. Which conditions would help the nurse decide that it is ethical to administer the medication through the application of the concept of double effect?
A) The medication has been proven effective in the treatment of cancer.
B) The nurse is administering the medication to achieve treatment of the cancer.
C) The harmful effect must not occur in order for the medication to be successful in treating the cancer.
D) The benefits of using this medication are more likely to occur than are the undesired actions of the medication.
E) The patient must agree to accept the possibility of undesired effects of the medication.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rationale 1: One of the conditions that must be present for the concept of double effect to be used is that the action itself must be "good" or at least morally indifferent.
Rationale 2: One of the conditions that must be present for the concept of double effect to be used is that the nurse must intend only the good effect of the action.
Rationale 3: In order for the concept of double effect to be useful the undesired effect must not be the means of attaining the good effect.
Rationale 4: A proportional or favorable balance between the desirable and the undesirable effects of the action must exist for the concept of double effect to be pertinent.
Rationale 5: While teaching about undesired effects is part of patient education and the patient retains the right to refuse the medication this is not a part of the concept of double effect.

A Patient Is Prescribed Medication for the Treatment of Cancer