Case study 2 The care plan for Alana states that she:has a shower every day is g
ID: 128233 • Letter: C
Question
Case study 2
The care plan for Alana states that she:has a shower every day
is given pain relief when needed
would like regular visits to the chapel to pray and talk to the pastoral care worker
would like her family to visit at all times
would prefer instructions to be in Italian
wants to celebrate her name day.
Alana’s husband and sons have requested that medical professionals not tell Alana about her condition or how long she has to live. They want to protect her from any distressing news and to prevent her from suffering further. They believe that if the prognosis is communicated to Alana she will give up hope and lose the will to live.
Alana’s advance care directives state that:
pain relief is to be administered only while it remains effective
no life-sustaining treatment is to be given once it is apparent that Alana is at the end-of-life stage
before she dies, a priest must administer the last rites and the rosary.
Why is it important to check the care plan before the delivery of care to a person?
What care directive has Alana and her family expressed, regarding personal preferences and culture, to occur before Alana dies?
Explanation / Answer
A care plan sets out how the care and support needs met. It is important to check care plan before the delivery of care to a patient who is at end of his life. His wishes, values, needs are clearly expressed in care plan and it help the health personnel to give appropriate care. In future if the patient is unable to express his feelings this care plan give the guidance to health personnal to fulfil the patient needs. In this case health personnal can give everyday bath to Mrs.Alana , can send her for prayer, allow family to visit her, talk with her in Italian or to get help from a person who knows Italian and make arrangements to celebrate her name day. So that she will be happy even in her critical stage of life.
Advance care directive is a legal document in which person specifies what action should be taken regarding their health when they are no longer able to take decisions. Here Mrs.Alana says that pain relief is to be administered only while it remains effective, no life-sustaining treatment is to be given once it is apparent that Alana is at the end-of-life stage and before she dies, a priest must administer the last rites and the rosary. So, at the end of her life , if the pain medications are not effective it will be withheld and patient is not put on ventilator for life saving. life saving medications should not be given and even CPR maynot be performed to save her life as per her wishes. The hospital authorites call for a priest to administer last rites and rosary to Mrs.Alana.