Matthew is an 18 years old male patient who wasdiagnosed with bone cancer and is suffering excruciating pain.After several laboratory and radiologic tests, the results showedthat his cancer has metastasized to his brain and lymph. Matthew’sparents can hardly recognize their son’s face with all theswelling. The physicians have informed Mathew’s parents that thereis no realistic chance of being cured and that he is now on manypain killers and other treatments that are failing to completelycontrol his pain. It is determined that any further surgical ormedical treatment would not be appreciated, and that palliativecare is the next step to be taken in this case. At this pointMatthew’s parents reported to the medical team that they haveaccepted the fact that their son was going to die and are prayingthat it would happen as soon as possible to decrease his sufferingbut are thankful for the few moments or days left that they couldspend at his side. Meanwhile, Matthew discussed with one of thenurses that he would like to hasten his death by any painlessintravenous drug, and he asked the nurse not to tell anyone. Thenurse felt very emotional and has decided to end Matthew’ssuffering by administering an IV potassium so that no one wouldrecognize the cause of his death.
Q. If you believe that the decision was morally not right (asindicated in your previous step) you need to state your alternativedecision followed by a clear moral justification using one or moreof the learned ethical theories.
