Ethical Issues in the Delivery of Palliative Care in Canada

docx

School

San Francisco State University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

HEALTH ASS

Subject

Nursing

Date

Nov 24, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by mbotekevin

1 Ethical Issues in the Delivery of Palliative Care in Canada Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Instructor’s Name Due Date

2 Ethical Issues in the Delivery of Palliative Care in Canada Palliative care is often recommended for persons who might be experiencing illnesses that can be deemed to be life-threatening. This is especially necessary as the service work towards improving the quality of life and health for the stated patients through the provision of interventions that can work towards supporting the relief and comfort from whatever health condition they might be suffering from (Stenekes et al., 2019). Although palliative care is often associated with patients who might be considered to be at the end of their lives, it is imperative to take note of the fact that there are some instances where these services may be recommended for individuals who are suffering from chronic illnesses or non-curable ones (Stenekes et al., 2019). Although health institutions in both the public and private sectors have been actively involved in the provision of this service, there have been some ethical concerns that have and continue to arise from time to time concerning the provision of palliative care as well as its access. This discussion looks into the ethical issues raised by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) report. The Current State of Palliative Care in Canada According to the research conducted by CIHI, it is evident that people in the country are receiving palliative care at a period later than they are required to or merely miss out on the opportunity altogether (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2018). As such, there have been increased cases where people have been dying in the process of being shifted from one home to the next or a hospital or a nursing home during their last days in life. The main reason behind this problem can be attributed to the shortage of access to adequate palliative care services. Canada’s efforts to provide the service have become known to most stakeholders from across the globe. However, the nation has failed to deliver what it continues to promise its

3 patients. Statistics indicate that approximately 61% of people in need of the service end up dying in hospitals. As such, one may conclude that such individuals are forced to endure the difficulties associated with spending time in a busy hospital environment where it may be difficult to have a dignified death. In addition to this, it is estimated that only 25% of patients suffering from terminal illnesses are likely to receive palliative care (Frolic & Oliphant, 2022). Although this has been the case, research suggests that about half of other patients in need population end up losing their lives as they continue to wait to be discharged to palliative care facilities. It is imperative to have a precise and conclusive plan when it comes to the delivery of palliative care. Under most circumstances, conditions that challenge the delivery of palliative care to patients can be predicted. Thus, the course of conditions of this kind progresses with the advent of time. This should not be an excuse for families to take their patients back to their homes merely for failing to afford the service. Instead, there ought to be a system that creates an opportunity for doctors to make home visits to ensure that these patients are provided with appropriate care (Quinn et al., 2021). One way to enhance the efficacy of such a service is by reducing the number of patients transferred to hospitals. Such a move can also be beneficial to the government as it may assist in cutting the cost of patients accommodated in a single hospital. This provides sufficient space where patients are likely to recover from whatever problem they might be suffering from. Ethical Issues Associated With Palliative Care in the Country One of the main ethical issues affecting palliative care is that very few Canadians are likely to receive palliative care within their final year of being alive. Research indicates that a majority of patients often prefer receiving palliative care from the comfort of their homes so that they may die in a comfortable yet familiar environment. Nonetheless, this has often proven to be

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

4 a problem since the government has failed to come up with relevant provisions that can grant such patients their final wishes (Quinn et al., 2021). Instead, most patients are often forced to undergo aggressive treatment procedures when it is too late and they are about to die. They are forced be endure the discomfort of being in an ICU facility. Another major concern is that there lack of an adequate number of health professionals with proper knowledge and expertise in palliative care. The report by CIHI indicates that there are very few medical experts who have specialized knowledge on how to provide quality palliative care (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2018). Specifically, only 1% of doctors in Alberta had specialized in palliative care as of 2012-2013. Additionally, research studies indicated that only about 2% of practical nurses within Canada were able and qualified to work in the provision of palliative care for the majority of the time. Compared to other parts of the world, one can therefore conclude that physicians within Canada are among the least prepared to assist patients when it comes to the provision of palliative care compared to other top countries such as the United States. Transitioning patients from one setting to another as they approach their end-of-life has been noted to be a major challenge. On average, a majority of patients have to wait for about 9 days before they can be discharged to an environment with proper equipment and facilities that can help with the provision of palliative care. In most cases, only cancer patients are prioritized as far as receiving palliative care is concerned, more so if they are between the ages of 45-74. As such, younger adults and seniors are less likely to be considered for this service (Mathews et al., 2021). This can be stated as an act of inequality as the government is required to come up with relative ways of ensuring that all persons are provided with adequate health services regardless of their age differences.

5 Critical Response A majority of patients who require palliative care end up not getting proper health intervention from health professionals in Canada. The government has stipulated that there are efforts brought forward towards ensuring that this issue is adequately resolved. This means that those in need may be in a position of being considered for the service. As such, this will help in increasing access to the intervention measure. This will also ensure that patients can seek such services at an earlier period in their life which in turn helps in bettering their overall health or merely assisting them to die under their terms. Although such endeavors are crucial n ensuring that the challenges associated with the provision of the service it is imperative to take note of the fact that the government needs to go an extra mile as far as ensuring that more health (Mathews et al., 2021). practitioners are provided with sufficient knowledge and skills in the provision of palliative care. This is especially necessary because there are not enough such practitioners in the country in the current context. One way in which the government could do this is through the provision of appropriate incentives or paid training programs to interested stakeholders.

6 References Canadian Institute for Health Information. (2018). Access to Palliative Care in Canada. Ottawa, ON: CIHI. Frolic, A., & Oliphant, A. (2022, September). Introducing medical assistance in dying in Canada: Lessons on pragmatic ethics and the implementation of a morally contested practice. In Hec Forum (pp. 1-13). Springer Netherlands. Mathews, J. J., Hausner, D., Avery, J., Hannon, B., Zimmermann, C., & Al-Awamer, A. (2021). Impact of medical assistance in dying on palliative care: a qualitative study. Palliative Medicine, 35(2), 447-454. Quinn, K. L., Wegier, P., Stukel, T. A., Huang, A., Bell, C. M., & Tanuseputro, P. (2021). Comparison of palliative care delivery in the last year of life between adults with terminal noncancer illness or cancer. JAMA network open, 4(3), e210677-e210677. Stenekes, S., Penner, J. L., Harlos, M., Proulx, M. C., Shepherd, E., Liben, S., ... & Siden, H. (2019). Development and implementation of a survey to assess health-care provider’s competency, attitudes, and knowledge about perinatal palliative care. Journal of palliative care, 34(3), 151-159.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Related Documents

Mark K 20.docx

Discussion Guidelines.docx

Empowering Disability Rights Through Occupational Therapy.docx

IMG_0730.png

NURSING PROPOSAL THEORATICAL FRAMEWORK.docx

8.docx

Pre-Cert Data (1).pdf

A Holistic Approach with Betty Neuman.docx

Screenshot 2023-07-31 at 5.36.56 PM.png

discussion 4.docx

JM Week 3 CLC Presentation 5 slides.docx

6635-W2-D16.docx

Recommended textbooks for you

Understanding Health Insurance: A Guide to Billin...

Health & Nutrition

ISBN:9781337679480

Author:GREEN

Publisher:Cengage

Intro To Health Care

Health & Nutrition

ISBN:9781337338295

Author:Mitchell

Publisher:Cengage

Surgical Tech For Surgical Tech Pos Care

Health & Nutrition

ISBN:9781337648868

Author:Association

Publisher:Cengage

Comprehensive Medical Assisting: Administrative a...

Nursing

ISBN:9781305964792

Author:Wilburta Q. Lindh, Carol D. Tamparo, Barbara M. Dahl, Julie Morris, Cindy Correa

Publisher:Cengage Learning

3-2-1 Code It

Biology

ISBN:9781337660549

Author:GREEN

Publisher:Cengage

Essentials Health Info Management Principles/Prac...

Health & Nutrition

ISBN:9780357191651

Author:Bowie

Publisher:Cengage

SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS

Recommended textbooks for you

Understanding Health Insurance: A Guide to Billin...
Health & Nutrition
ISBN:9781337679480
Author:GREEN
Publisher:Cengage
Intro To Health Care
Health & Nutrition
ISBN:9781337338295
Author:Mitchell
Publisher:Cengage
Surgical Tech For Surgical Tech Pos Care
Health & Nutrition
ISBN:9781337648868
Author:Association
Publisher:Cengage
Comprehensive Medical Assisting: Administrative a...
Nursing
ISBN:9781305964792
Author:Wilburta Q. Lindh, Carol D. Tamparo, Barbara M. Dahl, Julie Morris, Cindy Correa
Publisher:Cengage Learning
3-2-1 Code It
Biology
ISBN:9781337660549
Author:GREEN
Publisher:Cengage
Essentials Health Info Management Principles/Prac...
Health & Nutrition
ISBN:9780357191651
Author:Bowie
Publisher:Cengage