EVALUATION OF ETHICS DEBATE:
TOPIC:
Please rate each of the following on a 1- 10 scale:
Pro: Responsible for providing solid arguments in favor of the statement for debate based on ethical and legal principles from literature and precedents where applicable (5-7 minutes for each debater).
Ability to handle questions
Professional dress and demeanor
Active, convincing participation in the debate with appropriate arguments from a philosophical, ethical and legal perspective, not merely personal opinion.
Con: Responsible for providing solid arguments against the statement for debate based on ethical and legal principles from literature and precedents where applicable (5-7 minutes for each debater).
Ability to handle questions
Professional dress and demeanor
Active, convincing participation in the debate with appropriate arguments from a philosophical, ethical and legal perspective, not merely personal opinion.
Debate 1:
Debate the following statement: All persons should have access to the same level of health care regardless of their ability to pay.
Dr. Bloom - Moderator
Dan Ashdon- Pro
Jared Weaver - Con
Jessica Baker - Pro
Melinda Watkins - Con
Debate 2:
Debate the following statement: Mohano is not capable of making an informed consent.
Dr. Bloom- Moderator
Robert Belcon - Pro
Rachel Trevett - Con
Jennifer Curts - Pro
Kaci Thate- Con
Case Study:Mohano is a 67-year-old man with total deafness who was admitted to the hospital with uncontrolled atrial fibrillation. The treatments for atrial fibrillation (the atrias of the heart are beating VERY fast due to increased electrical impulses) include medications and cardioversion (electrical shock to the heart to quiet the fibrillation). The medications have failed to stop the A-fib, and the physician now wants to perform cardioversion.
The nurse notes that he is alert, apparently oriented, and able to follow simple directions that she acts out, although he does look apprehensive as she cares for him.
Mohano's social history indicates that he was brought into the hospital by a community worker who looks in on him because he is deaf and illiterate and has no family in the area. She has indicated that he came to the area as a migrant worker a number of years ago, along with a brother who died the previous year. She had also noted that he and his brother had developed a type of sign language that was understood only by them.
Adapted from: Burkhardt, M.A., & Nathaniel, A.K. (1998).Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing.Melbourne, FL: Delmar.
Debate 3:
Debate the following statement: Edward should be allowed to die
Dr. Bloom - Moderator
Sarah Davis - Pro
Erica Swindell - Con
Melissa Dougherty- Pro
Kelly Summers - Con
Case Study:Edward Bilton is a 31 year old computer analyst. He has recently married his long-term girlfriend and they are expecting their first child. Both of them work fulltime and lead a very active life pursuing outdoor activities that include windsurfing, mountaineering, and cross-country skiing.
Edward's parents are in their early 60's. His mother is a retired attorney, and his father is a retired school teacher.
Three weeks ago, Edward was involved in a traffic accident on his way to work. He was on a motorcycle and has sustained severe head injuries and his right leg has had to be amputated. He is still in the intensive care unit. Although he is brain injured, Edward is expected to regain consciousness but with severe neurological impairment. There has been one unsuccessful attempt to take him off the ventilator.
Edward and his wife both made living wills when they got married. Edward's will says that in the event of an accident he does not wish to be artificially kept alive should he be fully dependent and disabled. After one week, his wife brings the will into the ward. The attending physician wants to keep Edward on the ventilator. His mother feels he should be kept alive. However, the wife feels strongly that he should be allowed to die.
Adapted from: Philosophical and Religious Studies Subject Centre, School of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Leeds, UK.
Debate 4:
Debate the following statement: Corrine should be reinstated
Dr. Bloom- Moderator
Molly Hareid - Pro
Nena Saunders - Con
Melinda Howard - Pro
Linh Nguyen- Con
Case Study: Corrine Worthen, a registered nurse, protested against assignment to perform kidney dialysis upon a terminally ill patient who was a double amputee. She notified her head nurse that she "had moral, medical, and philosophical objections" against doing so. Prior to her protest Ms. Worthen had performed the procedure on the patient and twice had to interrupt it because the patient suffered cardiac arrest and severe hemorrhaging. Convinced that the procedure was more harmful than beneficial to the patient, Ms. Worthen asked to be reassigned. The head nurse granted her request.
Several months later, however, Ms. Worthen again was called upon to dialyze the patient. She objected, stating that she thought she had worked out an agreement not to be given this assignment. The head nurse referred Ms. Worthen to the treating physician who informed her that the patient's family wanted the patient kept alive, and that the patient would soon cease to live without dialysis. Nonetheless, Ms. Worthen said she refused to dialyze the patient anymore. The head nurse then warned her that she would be fired if she continued in her refusal. Ms. Worthen continued to refuse to dialyze the patient, and her employment was terminated. Ms. Worthen has sued the hospital for reinstatement.
Adapted from: University of San Diego Ethics Forum
Debate 5:
Debate the following statement: The nurse should refuse to close the case and should continue with the home visits.
Dr. Bloom- Moderator
Jeanice Jaroll- Pro
Jessica Nelson - Con
Belinda Johnston - Pro
Katherine Morgan- Con
Case Study: The home health nursing service in a hospital is facing budget cuts and staff limitations. In order to accommodate the patients who are being discharged earlier with more acute nursing needs in the home, the manager has proposed limiting visits to some chronic patients. She has proposed closing cases of "non-compliant" patients, and patients who show no improvement in spite of visits from the home health nurse for several months.
One such patient is Mrs. Lombardi. She is a 76-year old woman with a stasis ulcer on her right ankle. You have been visiting her twice a week for the last 7 months, doing dressing changes on the wound and monitoring her diabetes. She has very brittle diabetes, is overweight, and lives alone. The wound is clean but has shown no sign of healing. Mrs. Lombardi is a heavy smoker with a 55-year history of smoking two packs per day. You have counseled her regularly about the risks of smoking but she says she has no interest in stopping at this late stage of her life and besides, she has tried many times to quit using many different methods and has never been successful. She is aware that her ability to heal the ulcer may be compromised by continuing to smoke.
The manager now says that, because Mrs. Lombardi continues to smoke, she is noncompliant with her treatment. He recommendsthat the nurse close her case and stop the home visits since the wound shows no evidence of healing.
Adapted from:Davis, A., Aroskar, M., Liaschenko, J., & Drought, T. (1997). Ethical dilemmas and nursing practice (4thed.). Stamford, CT: Appleton and Lange.
Debate 6:
Debate the following question: Is the Doctor of Nursing practice ethical?
Dr. Bloom - Moderator
Heather Kitterman - Yes
Lisa McCormick -No
TaJonda Meadows - Yes
Elizabeth Ly - No