Ethical Dilemma in a Patient in the Terminal Period: A Case Report

The terminal period is the last part of the life of people who suffer from diseases resulting in death, which refers to an irreversible process that cannot be treated. Ethical problems are frequently encountered in the treatment process of critically ill patients in the terminal period. Nurses frequently encounter ethical concepts due to their position that allows a long-term relationship with the patient and their family, and sometimes they may even be in a decision-making situation. In this case report, we present the ethical dilemma of a nurse to allow or not allow a terminal patient in the intensive care unit to see her 3-year-old son.

Keywords: Case; Ethical dilemma; Intensive care unit; Nursing; Terminal period