Fifteen-year-old Mandy has acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and needs a bone marrow transplant. Mandy’s parents and younger sister Jessica all undergo testing to determine whether any of them is a prospective donor. Jessica, who is eight, is found to be a match, and Mandy and her family are overjoyed that she will be able to have the transplant.
Jessica’s parents explain to her that she is able to help her sister by having an operation to take part of the marrow inside her bones and give it to her sister, who, as Jessica knows, is critically ill. Jessica seems excited about the possibility of helping her older sister, so the parents provide initial consent for her to do so.
Jessica’s enthusiasm remains when she and her parents meet with Dr. Malone, the bone marrow transplant physician, and his team. Jessica asks some questions, and Dr. Malone assures her that her bones and blood will make more marrow to replace what is removed. Then Dr. Malone asks Jessica to stay to talk with him by herself. During this conversation, it becomes clear to him that she has not fully understood what the donation would entail. She seems concerned and anxious as she asks him whether it will hurt and about what could happen to her if she has the procedure, and she is visibly frightened about having to be put to sleep.
Dr. Malone is concerned that Jessica may be unduly influenced by her parents’ and sister’s expectations that she will donate. When he talks with her parents, however, they say they know Jessica well and that her sister’s health is more important to her than the immediate pain of the procedure. They explain that they, along with Mandy, will give Jessica much support and attention, and they insist that she will feel privileged and glad to have been able to help her sister for the rest of her life.
Questions:
1.What are the ethical issues raised by this case?
2. What has the doctor to do in order to make an ethical decision making in this case?
3. Please describe how the informed consent should be conducted in this case.
PLEASE SOLVE ALL THREE QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS CASE, THANK YOU
Fifteen-year-old Mandy has acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and needs a bone marrow transplant. Mandy’s parents and younger
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 899603
- Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2021 8:13 am