Issue
Hospital at this time must review Lydia’s situation and decide if withdrawal of ventilator and feeding tube is the best action or continue providing care life giving care.
Background
Lydia Bevins is 45-year-old woman. She was hospitalized six months ago after being in car accident. She is currently paralyzed and can only communicate through head nods. She is currently on a ventilator for respiratory assistance and receives tube feedings. Dr. Pritchard is currently resides over Lydia’s care for the last 90 days. Dr. Pritchard has advised that she has demonstrated progress in very small increments but her level of functioning has not significantly improved. Lydia before her accident had been diagnosed and treated successfully for breast cancer; however I do not see this as a primary concern.
Lydia’s spouse Mr. Bevins has indicated that she has an Advance Directive but has been unable to determine the whereabouts of it since it was done before their marriage 4 years ago. Mr. Bevins at this time is advising that his wife had communicated to him that she would not want to be kept alive in her current state.
Eileen Redfield is Lydia’s mother. She does not like seeing her daughter incapacitated but feels that ending her daughter’s life at this time is the not the answer. She has advised that several of the physicians have implied that Lydia might get better and some have given no hope for recovery at all. Lydia 2
Communication
We all know that it is protected right that only the patient has the right to make their own healthcare decisions. The hospital is governed by federal law with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). “The major goal of this law is to ensure the protection of an individual patient’s health information while balancing the need to provide quality healthcare. The violation of this statute could result in substantial fines for the facility.” (Vergari, Los Angeles Lawyer)
Mr.