Karen Ann Quinlan
- Description of the Incident in a clear and concise manner
- Include the relevant cultural/ethic background of population
- Discuss the incident in terms of ethical principles and social justice. If nursing involved in the issue, discuss any violation of the ANA Code of Ethics even if the code was not enacted at the time of the violations.
- Apply the principles of the Belmont Report to the situation.
- Could this situation occur in the 21st Century in the United States? Why or why not?
Reference support of your opinion with professional literature (no more than seven years old) found in the college library (LRC) databases or professional literature. Use APA format for in-text citations and references.
Writing Style: This paper must include a Title page and reference page per APA 7th edition format.
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Introduction:
The Karen Ann Quinlan case remains one of the most controversial and noteworthy cases in medical history. This case raised questions regarding end-of-life care, medical ethics, cultural values, and social justice. In this paper, we will analyze the Karen Ann Quinlan case by looking at the details of the incident, the relevant cultural/ethnic background of the population, ethical principles and social justice, and the application of the principles of the Belmont Report. We will also examine whether a similar situation could occur in the 21st Century in the United States.
Description of the Incident:
Karen Ann Quinlan was a 21-year-old woman who fell into a coma in 1975 due to drug and alcohol use. She was placed on a ventilator to assist her breathing. Her parents requested that the ventilator be withdrawn so that Karen could die peacefully, but the hospital refused. The parents then went to court and won the right to remove her from the ventilator. Karen was taken off the ventilator and lived for nine more years in a persistent vegetative state before her death in 1985.
Relevant Cultural/Ethnic Background:
The Quinlan family was a devout Catholic family, and their religious beliefs influenced their decision to want to remove Karen from the ventilator. Catholic teachings do not view the prolongation of life through medical treatments as an absolute value, but rather as a relative value in light of other moral and ethical considerations. However, the Catholic Church does not allow euthanasia or intentional taking of human life.
Ethical Principles and Social Justice:
The Karen Ann Quinlan case raises many ethical questions, including the right to die, informed consent, medical paternalism, and medical futility. The case also raised questions about social justice and healthcare access. The hospital’s refusal to remove Karen from the ventilator despite her parents’ request created a sense of powerlessness and injustice.
Violation of the ANA Code of Ethics:
The ANA Code of Ethics focuses on the responsibilities of nurses to their patients and society as a whole. Although the Code was not enacted at the time of the Quinlan case, it can be considered a guiding principle for ethical behavior. A violation of the ANA Code of Ethics in this case could include a nurse’s failure to advocate for the patient’s right to die with dignity and allowing the hospital to unilaterally make medical decisions without the patient’s or family’s input.
Application of the Belmont Report:
The principles of the Belmont Report outline the ethical principles that should guide research involving human subjects. The report emphasizes the importance of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. In the Karen Ann Quinlan case, respect for persons and beneficence were clearly at stake, and the parents’ request to remove Karen from the ventilator should have been respected. However, issues of justice arise when identifying whether people of different socioeconomic status would have access to similar end-of-life care.
Could this situation occur in the 21st Century in the United States?
In the 21st Century, the situation that occurred with Karen Ann Quinlan could still occur. Although there have been significant advancements in medical ethics, there are still many challenges in end-of-life care that need to be addressed. Patients’ rights to autonomy, informed consent, and right to die with dignity are still contentious issues. Additionally, cultural and religious beliefs and values continue to influence end-of-life decisions. However, there are now more legal precedents in place that allow families to make decisions about their loved ones’ care during end-of-life situations.
References:
American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (3rd ed.). Silver Spring, MD: Author.
Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of biomedical ethics (7th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
Quinlan, J. (1977). The healthcare debate. Newsweek, (89)22, 13-14.
