Vegetative State Case Study

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May Surrogate Decisions Makers Terminate Care for a Person in a Persistent Vegetative State?

I. Introduction
A. Healthcare can be very controversial. One of the most challenging and difficult cases has involved patients diagnosed in a vegetative state. The main requirements for a diagnosis of PVD is at least one month in this state and no respond to purposeful stimuli. This point validates the important of advanced directives. PVD can be a lengthy disease process. Surrogate decision makers become involved and attempt to determine the patient’s wishes. This opens the door for definition of medical care means? Also is this diagnosis dependable and valid. The difficulty lies in determining mental status variations verses a vegetative state.

B. These articles are basically never going to come to a decision that supports each other’s thoughts. One decision that I believe is correct is that no one will probably agree on this topic and will continue to have two conflicting opinions. What is medically necessary? Was treatment for Terri Schiavo valuable for a recovery? Should treatment be continued or finished if it does not improve the patients’ health?

II. Reconstruction of main arguments

A Report to Governor …show more content…

End of life relating to persistent vegetative state. What defines end of life diagnosis or terminal disease process with less than 6 months to live? That is the exact argument that Tom Koch believes is why the wrong decision was made. Florida State said that no recovery possible bases on a long-lasting and irreversible condition. Those opposed to this philosophy argued that her condition was only end- stage and what would cause end of life is withholding and withdrawal of nutrition and hydration. Which provokes the next argument? If all cerebral function had ceased would Terri have been able to suffer? Did Terri have the sense of personhood? Personhood is defined, as an existential attribute that meaning is grounded on ones relationship to

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