Requests from Clinicians for UTMB Ethics Consultation
Samples from January to April 1996
33-year-old male: HIV+ with poor prognosis.
Code status hasn't been addressed; patient not in decision-making capacity; no known relatives. Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) patient.
33-year-old female: insulin-dependent diabetic.
Patient has deep 10-inch-long incision on leg, appears to be infected, has foul odor. Nurse called for a consult; she felt physicians weren't giving her adequate care. Texas City Female Shelter patient. Patient pleaded to nurse: "Please don't let me lose my leg."
66-year-old male: head and neck cancer.
Patient refuses medical care.
Male: HIV+ with guarded prognosis.
TDCJ patient refuses medical care; doesn't want to receive therapeutic measures anymore; unaware of any family members.
83-year-old male: septic, acute renal failure with multisystem problems.
Nurse called in consult; physician unwilling to address do-not-resuscitate issues with patient. Physician addressed the question of calling an ethics consult with the other health care providers, and they voted unanimously to call the Ethics Consultation Service. A consult request by the physician was then initiated.
TDCJ inmate: consented to have CBC drawn, but then refused to let staff send it off.
Staff had questions on the patient's right to refuse this service.
49-year-old female: fractured hip.
History of psychological problems. Physicians recommend surgery, but patient is not in decision making capacity. Brother in New York verbally gave consent for surgery. Physicians have concerns regarding patient's rights.
46-year-old male: liver and renal failure, end-stage liver disease.
Patient not in decision-making capacity. Uncertain if woman that appears to be making the decisions is actually his wife and can act as a legal guardian.
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