A man and woman enter an emergency room, the woman aiding the man who is ill and barely able to walk.
A nurse comes out and helps the sick man into a room, then asks the woman to wait in the waiting room.
The man protests and tearfully asks that she be allowed into the examining room with them. The nurse asks her, "Are you his wife?" The woman replies, "No, but we live together."
The nurse states the hospital policy that only those who are legally next of kin are allowed into examinations.
The man begins to cry, perhaps from pain; he is too weak to protest, but the woman begs to be allowed to come along.
The nurse again states hospital policy that she's not allowed into the examining room, primarily because only next of kin were allowed to help make medical decisions. She could serve no role in those decisions.
WAS THE HOSPITAL'S POLICY ETHICALLY CORRECT?
WHAT RESPONSE WOULD YOUR FAITH SUGGEST TO THIS DILEMMA?
2006-11-29
14:21:13
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19 answers
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asked by
NHBaritone
7
in
Religion & Spirituality