Ella's Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ella's Family - Essay Example These include the doctor, the patient and the patient’s family. The situation is even further complicated when the different members of the patient’s family don’t agree with regard to what is the best decision to make. This seems to be the case with Ella’s family where her decision with regard to how her treatment and end of life should be handled differs with her husband. Her family also seems to be in disagreement. With terminal illness comes the choice of death for the patient and sometimes the doctor. This comes with a number of social and cultural issues. Many cultures have not internalized the idea of doctor aided patient death for terminal patients. While the doctor may decide that it is better for the patient to stop her treatment and die with dignity, the patient and the family may ask that the patient continues with treatment until she dies a natural death (Wheatley and Baker, 2007). Even in cases where the patient may decide to have a physician-aided end of life, her family may not agree, especially due to cultural beliefs about death and life. In Ella’s case, this seems to be the case. Her husband of Indian decent does not seem to be very open with the idea of her stopping to take treatment and eventually ending her life. There are various medical issues that arise in cases such as Ellas. First, the doctors must be able to understand that they have to take the wellbeing of the patient in a serious manner. It is necessary for the doctor involved in the situation to make sure that the best medical outcome is achieved. In a case where the patient is in a terminal condition, the doctor has to make sure that the patient is willing to go on with the treatment, it should be the patient’s choice that it most relevant (Garrett, 1993). The doctor has to face the difficult decision of having to tell the paint and those who care about her (family, friends)