The nurse (Ms. Robaczynski) killed the patient (Mr. Gessner)
Based on the presented information in the case study, I think that the nurse (Ms. Robaczynski) killed the patient (Mr. Gessner). While the patient was in a critical condition, the healthcare professional withdrew the respirator, which was instrumental in supporting his breathing needs. No sooner had the mechanical device been disconnected than the patient passed on in the hospital. Ms. Robaczynski was frank because she said that she disconnected the breathing device for the patient’s interest in a critical condition. The nurse’s action can be termed as unprofessional because Mr. Gessner did not request the healthcare personnel to terminate his life. It could have been ethical and professional for the nurse to wait for him to succumb to his critical health conditions.
Although the conditions were severe, it could be assumed that they could not have led to the patient’s demise. There is no supporting information that shows that pulse and blood pressure had disappeared before Ms. Robaczynski disconnected the respirator. However, she claims otherwise. She asserts that she took away the breathing device because her patient showed no life signs (pulse and blood pressure). Such a claim is unprofessional because quality records of patients’ data and information aimed at improving outcomes, should support healthcare. It is important to note that the nurse admits that she is used to withdrawing respirators from patients in comatose. Nurses recognize that patients in comatose need special care that would enable them to recover from their conditions. Thus, such an action by a registered healthcare professional raises moral, ethical, and professional issues.
One cannot stop to wonder why Ms. Robaczynski was involved in initiating resuscitation in comatose patients, yet she presumed that they would not recover. It is pertinent to appreciate that patients are entitled to live as they wish, and no nurse or any other healthcare professional should take a patient’s life away. However, in this case, the nurse the patient’s life abruptly, which is against nursing standards across the world. Thus, it has been shown that Ms. Robaczynski killed the patient intentionally. Such an action could make the healthcare personnel appear in a court to answer murder charges.
View of the nurse actions differently
If the patient had asked the nurse to disconnect the respirator from him, I would view her actions differently. With regard to the different views of Ms. Robaczynski’s activities, it can be assumed that the patient was already overwhelmed by the three health conditions. In addition to the states, he developed respiratory failure while in the healthcare facility, which made him worse in terms of health. It is documented that people with conditions that would mark the end of their lives could ask healthcare personnel to kill them ‘mercifully.’ In fact, their requests are intended to end their suffering that is also exemplified by much pain. In such cases, patients or their relatives give consent that is documented to act as evidence in the future. Thus, if Mr. Gessner felt that he could not continue to suffer in the hospital and requested Ms. Robaczynski to end his life, then she would not be suspected of killing the patient because there would be adequate evidence. In other words, she could have implemented what the patient wished to achieve.