Palliative Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Palliative Care - Essay Example Legal consideration According to the South Australia advance care-directives act 2013, impaired decision-making capability is one of the major legal considerations during the care of a patient with a life-limiting illness. According to the impaired decision-making capacity act (section 7), a person is taken to be impaired in decision making if either the person is not capable of understanding any information that may be relevant to decision or is incapable of retaining an information made (South Australia. 2013, pp. 10-34). In relation to the case, Mr. Martin Cavanagh was considered having a normal decision-making capacity despite presenting with a terminal illness. This is because the patient was well oriented to time, space and person and could make viable decisions. In relation to the patent refusal of service operation guideline, (SAAS, 2013, p.1), an adult aged 16 years and above has the right to refuse treatment if he/she feels the treatment is either not beneficial or leads to harm. According to this concept, Mr. Martin Cavanagh had a right to refuse treatment. The patient in this instance has a right to choose a place for care provision like in his/her home or at a hospice. Refusal of health care services is a provision of the advanced care directive. Ethical considerations Autonomy is a crucial ethical consideration in the management of a patient with a life-limiting condition. At all instances, when the patient is capable of making his/her decisions, the right to autonomy must always be observed.