Case Study Analysis: The patient, MMMM, needs a blood transfusion and possibly surgery to save her life and that of her unborn child in related to an injury suffered from a car accident. The patient does not want to receive blood samples or surgery. The patient's reluctance is related to her faith, which is based on biblical scriptures regarding blood. The primary ethical issue in this case is the patient's right to autonomy. There is another dilemma here and that is that the fetus is at greater risk of dying if the patient decides not to undergo the transfusion or surgery. When an adult refuses a blood transfusion related to religious beliefs despite receiving information about the benefits versus risks, it is considered an informed decision. However, a parent who refuses a blood transfusion for their child based on this same belief may face legal charges of abuse or neglect and a judicial decision will be made (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2007, p. 456). This raises a precarious ethical dilemma for the healthcare team related to the principle of Joan's autonomous rights and the principle of beneficence towards her unborn child. Beneficence is defined as doing or promoting good, preventing harm, and removing evil or harm. (Burkhardt and Nathaniel, 2007, p. 62). At what point does the nurse's duty to prevent harm outweigh the patient's right to autonomy? This case would likely end up before the court that would make the decision of the patient and healthcare providers ruling in favor of the best interests of the unborn child. The use of deontological ethical theory and a rationalist school of thought could facilitate the nurse's decision-making process. The patient who refuses treatment... in the center of the paper... bloodless surgeries are economically advantageous since blood is more expensive than iron or Procrit, it reduces the risk associated with transfusions, such as administering the wrong blood group due to an error made in the laboratory. Bloodless surgeries are on the rise, and several hospitals have adopted this cost-effective alternative for patients (“Bloodless Surgery,” 2013). The rest of the analysis of this case study will use the four-method strategy to investigate the dynamics of this case in more detail. Works Cited Burkhardt, M. A., & Nathaniel, A. K. (2007). Ethics and issues in contemporary nursing (3rd ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Cengage Learning. Safety, cost savings, simplicity support wider use of bloodless surgery [Special section]. (2013, May). OR Manager Inc, 29(5), 1-6. Retrieved from http://www.ormanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ORM_0513_01_Bloodless.pdf