On this, our final prac, I came across a rather interesting situation. One difficult patient, who is a long term admission, has recently been refuing to ambulate. Many different stratergies have been implemented to no avail.
The doctors have decided to offer the patient a bribe - if he walks downstairs with the physiotherapists, he is allowed to have a can of beer. How ethically correct is that? And seeing as were the ones that have to take him for that drink, can we decline if we don't approve?
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2 comments:
At the end of the day, you have to consider that the benefit of ambulation for the pt is greater than the risk of giving him a can of beer. If the pt was at home, then he would probably be drinking anyway, and if the Dr's have okayed it, then it won't do much harm. It would be more ethically incorrect to refuse the ambulate the pt because of having to give him the beer than it would be give him the beer. After all, alcohol is a legal substance, and the pt has a choice to take it or not.
Can't say I'd be too eager to do it if I was in that position but from an outsider looking at it, I think its magic!
Is there no other bribe that would have worked?
Oh well, maybe if its just a light beer its ok??
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