The client has a living will in which he states he does not want to be

QUESTION

The client has a living will in which he states he does not want to be kept alive by artificial means. The client’s family wants to disregard the client’s wishes and have him maintained on artificial life support. The most appropriate initial course of ac

a. tell the family that they have no legal rights.
b. tell the family that they have the right to override the living will because the patient cannot speak.
c. report the situation to the hospital ethics committee.
d. allow the family to verbalize their feelings and concerns, while maintaining the role of client advocate.

ANSWER:

ANS: D
Allowing the family to verbalize their feelings and concerns is the most appropriate action at the time to help the family deal with their loss and come to terms with their family member’s wishes. Telling the family that they have no legal rights would not be supportive and might create hostility. The family does not have the right to override a living will. It is not the most appropriate initial course of action to report the situation to the hospital ethics committee. According to the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses, the nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient.