What Are The Options?

Option 1:

Support Shared Decision-Making

  • Under this option:

    • Margaret receives education regarding risks, benefits, and uncertainties of all options

    • Informed refusal is documented

    • The interdisciplinary team collaborates on a patient-centered care plan

    • Margaret is allowed to choose thin liquids if that’s her preference

    • Margaret’s autonomy and dignity are preserved

    • Her quality of life may improve

    • Trust between Margaret and her care team may strengthen

    • Margaret’s aspiration risk remains present, but this risk is hard to quantify

    • Daniel’s staff may experience discomfort

    • Daniel’s anxiety regarding liability may continue


Option 2:

Enforce Diet Recommendations

    • Sofia mandates that Margaret only have the safest documented diet

    • Sofia’s staff are instructed not to provide thin liquids

    • Safety remains the primary organizational priority

    • Margaret’s aspiration risk may decrease, but this is hard to quantify.

    • Daniel’s staff may feel legally protected from adverse events

    • Organizational consistency is maintained

    • Margaret’s federally protected autonomy may be diminished

    • Coercion may occur

    • Margaret’s quality of life may decline

    • Margaret’s trust with her care team may erode