Abstract
It is my intent to explore the family, parent, patient, social work relationships as a focus central to the solution of ethical dilemmas. In today's environment, patient selection continues to reflect persistent patterns of biased allocation of services. The ability of a family to make a decision about medical treatment begins with an understanding of how choices regarding that treatment are shared. Without taking appropriate precautions, an increased risk arises of providing surgical procedures involving real medical risk, yet unresolved psychological trauma remains unassessed. The unrelenting questions of, When?, How?, and Why?, a family should be involved in the process of ethical decision-making, begs the inherent prejudice involved.
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