Ethical decisions in the hospital: living or dying?
Ethical decisions in the hospital: living or dying?
In the Helios Hospital in Überlingen, life and death are decided! An ethics working group meets when the situation is extreme-for example after a serious accident that irrevocably affects the quality of life of a patient. This is where doctors, relatives and pastors come together to discuss the best treatment options. The chairwoman, Elsie Fickenscher, herself a former doctor, explains that these consultations take place between one and five times a year. The Ethics Circle was founded in 2008 on the initiative of the clinic staff to protect the autonomy of the patients and to clarify them about their treatment options.
decisions under pressure
The focus is on four central principles in these critical moments: do not harm, well -being, autonomy and justice. Fickenscher describes a particularly emotional case: a stroke patient who could no longer speak or swallow. The committee initially approved a gastric tube for artificial nutrition, but that didn't feel right. The patient didn't want to die, but also no probe. Ultimately, they decided to offer their food with the spoon - a decision that dissolved the contradiction between medical necessity and the will of the patient.The meetings of the ethics working group are not just a compulsory exercise; You are an emotional roller coaster ride! The members regularly meet to discuss acute cases and offer further training. Ortwin Engel-Klemm, clinic pastor, emphasizes the importance of mental support: "We are looking for what people keep alive." Often it is family, faith or personal goals that give the patient strength. These conversations are not only important for the patients, but also for nursing staff who have the emotional burdens of fate. Fickenscher regularly visits the intensive care unit to help employees - because they too need support in these difficult times.
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| Ort | Helios-Spital, 88662 Überlingen, Deutschland |
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