Ethics Vignette VI: Health Care Surrogates-VIHealthCareSurrogates

VIHealthCareSurrogates

Pdf Summary

This document includes Ethics Vignettes VI, which focuses on health care surrogates in the context of neurologic evaluation and treatment. The introduction explains that the purpose of the document is to familiarize the reader with the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine's (AANEM's) guidelines for ethical behavior in neurologic and electrodiagnostic practice. The document includes a clinical vignette that presents a case involving a patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is being evaluated for motor neuron disease (MND). The patient has assigned a health care surrogate (HCS) but is unaware of the possible MND diagnosis. The HCS refuses to allow electrodiagnostic testing and does not want the patient to be informed of the probable diagnosis of ALS. The HCS also wants the patient to pursue treatment with stem cells. The document poses a series of questions to provoke thought and discussion about the ethical implications of these situations. It emphasizes the importance of open communication, providing patients with information, and involving them in decisions about their care. The document also mentions the significance of considering the wishes of the health care surrogate, but also highlights the importance of evidence-based care and the duty of physicians to act in the best interests of their patients.

Keywords

Ethics Vignettes VI

health care surrogates

neurologic evaluation

treatment

AANEM's guidelines

clinical vignette

COPD

MND

electrodiagnostic testing

ALS diagnosis

motor neuron disease