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Medical social workers play an integral role as \u00a0support for patients and their families at the end of a patient\u2019s life. \u00a0Most physicians are not equipped to handle the emotional aspects at the \u00a0end of life. Therefore, more often than not, medical social workers are \u00a0the principal health care professional involved in educating, mediating, \u00a0and coordinating end of life plans. In this capacity, medical social \u00a0workers are charged with informing patients and their families about \u00a0end-of-life decisions and providing counseling around these issues. \u00a0Medical social workers must understand the terminology, technology, and \u00a0legal issues that can dictate end-of-life care.<\/p>\n
Consider the following cases:<\/p>\n
Roger is a 43-year-old African American male \u00a0diagnosed with HIV\/AIDS and renal failure. He was recently admitted to \u00a0the intensive care unit and put on a ventilator due to medical \u00a0deterioration. The doctors inform his wife that there is no chance that \u00a0his condition will improve and explain that he is being kept alive by \u00a0the machines. Roger\u2019s wife is distraught but knows that Roger did not \u00a0want to be kept alive by a machine. The medical social worker goes to \u00a0Roger\u2019s chart and finds his medical power of attorney. Roger\u2019s wife is \u00a0listed as his agent; however, the document was not signed by two \u00a0witnesses as required.<\/p>\n
Margaret is a 72-year-old female with severe \u00a0cardiovascular disease. She is admitted to the hospital after a stroke. \u00a0There is no indication that she will recover and, if so, to what level \u00a0of functioning. The doctors have informed her family that she is \u00a0experiencing cardiac issues that might lead to heart failure. Should \u00a0this happen, the doctors will have to take efforts to resuscitate her. \u00a0The medical social worker and the doctor meet with the family to discuss \u00a0a do not resuscitate order. The family is completely overwhelmed. They \u00a0do not fully understand what the doctor is saying and they are in \u00a0disagreement about what to do.<\/p>\n
To prepare for this Discussion<\/strong>, review this week\u2019s resources including the case studies. Select one<\/strong> of the cases. Think about the end-of-life issues including living wills or medical power of attorney.<\/p>\n Post<\/strong> an explanation of how you \u00a0as a medical social worker would handle the case you selected. Explain \u00a0the services you might offer to the family within the applicable laws \u00a0and your scope of practice. Explain the methods and practices you might \u00a0employ to educate this family regarding the legal issues surrounding the \u00a0case. Then, explain the purpose, benefits, and legal ramifications of \u00a0living wills, medical power of attorney, and advance directives. \u00a0Finally, explain the advocacy role you might play on behalf of the \u00a0patient and patient\u2019s family in this case.<\/p>\n Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific \u00a0references to the resources and the current literature using appropriate \u00a0APA format and style.<\/em> Gehlert, S., & Browne, T. (Eds.). (2012). Handbook of health social work<\/em> (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Buckey, J. W., & Abell, N. (2010). Life-sustaining treatment decisions: A social work response to meet needs of health care surrogates. Journal of Social Work & End-of-Life Palliative Care, 6<\/em>(1\u20132), 27\u201350. Cagle, J. G., & Kovacs, P. J. (2009). Education: A complex and empowering social work intervention at the end of life. Health and Social Work, 34<\/em>(1), 17\u201327.<\/h4>\n
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Chapter 23, \u201cEnd-of-Life Care\u201d (pp. 627\u2013642)
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Note:<\/strong> Retrieved from Walden Library databases.
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Note:<\/strong> Retrieved from Walden Library databases.
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