The request of a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic person to be removed from the ventilator presents the health care team with an ethical dilemma. Application of ethical principles to case facts guides the decision maker. The ethical principle of autonomy requires that persons be respected and free to determine their course in life. The ethical principle of beneficence requires the health care team to actively benefit or do good for the patient. The ethical principle of nonmaleficence requires the health care team to refrain from harming a patient. The ethical duty of fidelity requires the nurse to be faithful to commitments made to patients. Ethical principles and duties are clear and straightforward. The decision of how they apply to a given case is not. However, applying them to a case, while not providing definitive answers, will provide the certainty that the decision was the best possible in a particular set of circumstances. An increasing number of cases similar to Joe's is being resolved in favor of discontinuing the ventilator. Emotional havoc could be the result to nurses who care for these patients. Individuals and institutions must begin planning strategies to deal with these and similar ethical dilemmas. Strategies might include anticipatory counseling, ethical decision making education programs and utilization of a nurse trained in ethics as a staff resource person. Nurses should attend and be involved in discussions of institutional ethics committees.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)