Advanced Care Plan in Palliative Care-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Write a Report on Advanced Care Plan in Palliative Care. Answer: In case of palliative treatment, it becomes imperative for the health professionals to adopt the Advance Care Planning (ACP) as it helps the professionals make necessary arrangements for offering spiritual and emotional support as well as personal care to the chronically ill patients. The ACP is highly important as it does ensure high quality end-of-life care to the old patients, and most importantly allows the aged patients express their individual values and preferences for end-of-life treatment through a range of proper documents (Lim 2016). Since the ACP serves to enhance the individual autonomy in deciding the course of treatment, this form of treatment is highly recommended. However, at the same time, it would be interesting to note the ethical dilemma that might stem from this course of treatment as well as analyze and investigate the Australian laws and policies supporting this healthcare system. First of all, as far as the ethical dilemma is concerned, it should be noted that as per the laws, the aged patient seeking palliative care can be allowed to end his life in an environment of his choice, surrounded by near ones, and if necessary, strong pain killers will be recommended as well, to relive the pain. However, this can be morally questionable for the healthcare professional to leave a dying patient in care of his relatives who may not be able to offer sufficient healthcare treatment when needed. Besides, the use of strong painkillers may worsen the situation and while reducing the pain, can increase the chance of heart attacks. However, once the ACP approach is taken, the entire power lies in the hand of the patient, who may not always take steps in favor of his health and future well-being (McLenan et al., 2015). Besides, often the patient who may be terminally ill, may end up choosing Euthanasia, as an option, and yet the healthcare service provider is hopeful about hi s recovery. This can also result in a clash between the autonomy of the patient and the beneficence of a nurse, which is an important ethical principle that the nurse must serve to promote good amongst her patients. In this connection, it is important to note that the Victorian Health Priorities Framework 20122022 has outlined 7 priority areas meant for addressing the key issues in the health system (McMahan et al., 2013). This framework has clearly stated the importance of expanding the advance care planning as an important action for improving every Victorians health status and health experience, health knowledge as well as supporting choices. Further, the Medical Treatment Act of 1988 has also clearly stated that a patient undergoing palliative care must be allowed the right to refuse any form of unwanted medical treatment and that these patients must be assured of receiving maximum relief from pain (McMahan et al., 2013). ACP is important as it allows a patient the freedom to choose the course of action at the end of life. At least the man can die with a sense of content, rather than pain, discontent and agitation. The healthcare professionals should be engaged as long as the patients condition can be controlled and managed by medical resources. However, ACP is used for terminally ill patients who have no chance of survival such as an old man, who is about to die from cancer or dementia. As and when an individual is allowed the chance to pen down the needs and expectations of healthcare in old age, it can immensely help doctors to consider the patients wishes and individual preferences when planning the care (Brinkman-Stoppelenburg et al., 2014). This helps in ensuring the privacy and human dignity that every patient deserves. Ethical dilemma in palliative care without a doubt postures danger in moral issues among the social insurance laborers and patients anyway it is a respectable thing to do, as it means to calm torments and enduring in patients with perpetual conditions in their days towards end of life. Moral standards have been made by restorative relationship to guarantee willful extermination is done effectively and reasonably. Research is as yet being led to concoct the best practice in palliative care, as a few governments and the general public are against willful extermination as training in palliative care. Reference List: Brinkman-Stoppelenburg, A., Rietjens, J. A., van der Heide, A. (2014). The effects of advance care planning on end-of-life care: a systematic review.Palliative medicine,28(8), 1000-1025. Lim, A. N. (2016). Literature review: Advance Care Planning (acp) in older AustraliansIi.Australasian Journal on Ageing,35, 51. McLennan, V. E., Boddy, J. H., Daly, M. G., Chenoweth, L. M. (2015). Relinquishing or taking control? Community perspectives on barriers and opportunities in advance care planning.Australian Health Review,39(5), 528-532. McMahan, R. D., Knight, S. J., Fried, T. R., Sudore, R. L. (2013). Advance care planning beyond advance directives: perspectives from patients and surrogates.Journal of pain and symptom management,46(3), 355-365.