-
78. Case: Health Care for New Canadians
View Case Study: 78. Case: Health Care for New CanadiansSupported Decision Making and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Freya Pedersen is a 23-year-old with a developmental disability. The surgeon is discussing an upcoming surgery with Freya and her parents. Freya tries to express herself, but it is hard to understand her speech. The surgeon is in a rush and just hands the consent…
-
74. Case: Compulsive Hoarding – Mary
View Case Study: 74. Case: Compulsive Hoarding – MaryMary is a 72 year old woman who has been a compulsive hoarder for the last 10 years. She can only move from room to room through pathways. She would like to move closer to her daughter and grandchildren, but she feels overwhelmed by the amount of stuff she has in her house. Despite the…
-
61. Case: Ending the Fluoridation of Water – A Public Meeting
View Case Study: 61. Case: Ending the Fluoridation of Water – A Public MeetingThe local town council has received a petition signed by more than 500 residents requesting the discontinuation of fluoride in the town’s water supply. Before making a decision on the matter, the council has decided to hold a “town hall” meeting to seek more input and help to educate its members and the audience about…
-
27. Case: Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatment
View Case Study: 27. Case: Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining TreatmentMr. Windown, age 82, is admitted to a cardiology clinical unit with unstable angina. In addition to his coronary artery disease, Mr. Windown suffers from disabling generalized osteoarthritis, chronic and progressive obstructive lung disease, and diabetes with associated compromise of his vision and kidney function. The coronary angiography reveals significant blockages of Mr. Windown’s coronary…
-
26. Case: Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment, or Euthanasia?
View Case Study: 26. Case: Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment, or Euthanasia?An ethics request came from nursing staff caring for a patient dying with end-stage throat cancer on acute surgical service. The patient has requested a removal of her tracheotomy and a chance to die as she chooses. She had agreed to try the trach for a while, but is finding it negatively impacts her quality…
-
25. Case: A Difference of Opinion?
View Case Study: 25. Case: A Difference of Opinion?Mary is a 90-year old woman who has been in hospital several weeks. She has a COPD exacerbation, increasing difficulty swallowing, and pneumonia. She has said repeatedly she is tired of being in hospital and tired of fighting to breathe. She doesn’t want a feeding tube or her IV but wants to be allowed to…
-
23. Case: Reaching the Limits
View Case Study: 23. Case: Reaching the LimitsMr. Stanley, a divorced 55-year old journalist with a history of epilepsy, was admitted to the medical ICU after an unwitnessed (presumably prolonged) episode of status epilepticus at home. Investigations, including an MRI study, revealed that he had sustained watershed cortical infarcts and a diagnosis of severe anoxic encephalopathy was made. Mr. Stanley did not…
Case Repository
Category: Consent
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
© © 2026 Nova Scotia Health Ethics Network.
All Rights Reserved.