The Totally Competent 76-Year-Old Female with Terminal Cancer Is Fatigued

question 9

Multiple Choice

The totally competent 76-year-old female with terminal cancer is fatigued and tearful about the ineffectiveness of her treatment. She tells the nurse that she wishes she had never started it but now feels obligated to continue. What would be the most appropriate explanation by the nurse regarding the treatment?

• A) Once treatment has begun, the doctor should decide about any changes.
• B) She may change her mind about treatment at any time.
• C) Decisions about treatment should be made by the person who is her medical power of attorney.
• D) Cessation of treatment will shorten her life.

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Definitions:

Affective

Relating to moods, feelings, and attitudes; the emotional aspect of the mind's function.

Attitude

A settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically reflected in a person's behavior.

Physiological

Related to the normal functions of living organisms and their parts, including all physical and chemical processes.

Evolutionary

Pertaining to the process of natural selection and adaptation where species undergo genetic change over time, resulting in new characteristics that can enhance survival and reproduction.