Ethical Challenges in the Care of the Trauma Patient.

A patient with trauma presents a unique and/or complex challenge to the ethical foundation that guides nursing care. Patients with trauma, by the very nature of the suddenness of their injury, are unable to predetermine or express their wishes in the event of a catastrophic injury. The providers who care for patients with trauma do not have an established patient relationship to aid them in decision-making based on what they think the patient would wish or based on past conversations. Yet, they provide expert care and use ethical principles to direct their professional responsibility to these patients.