Posted by Rich Spurr on March 19, 1998 at 12:38:56:
CASE STUDY # 1
My choice of the five applicants for the transplant would be
the physician.
Why-- Two main reasons- First she is a single mom with two kids who need her there.
Second, she is a very talented and bright individual with much to offer the
medical community. Perhaps her research will find a cure for the tumor that
she was afflicted with.
B). The ethical principles and rules that I used for my decision are as follows:
The Principle of Double Effect--If she were given the new liver
she can do good for the rest of the people suffering from similar liver diseases.
Also, she appears to the most healthy of the five applicants who could survive the
transplant and deal with side effects of organ rejection and illnesses that affect
receipients of transplants.
CASE STUDY # 2
The problem here is as student you are learning your pfrofession at the hosapital.
part of the requirements are to take care of patients, and gain valuable and required
experience. The student must adapt to the situation and approach it in a professional
manner.
The three options-- A. Have an experienced professional accompany you into the patients'
room to assist you.
B). Explain to the patient in a calm and understanding voice why you there
and answer all of her questions before doing anything.
C). You can respect her decision and ask for another patient and assignment.
The student should learn from all the interactions during the course
of his/her clinical eaperiences. It is from these experiences that you
become a professional and care about the people whom you taking care each
and every day.
The implications or Consequences--
The consequences could be that no matter what you or the other professional
the patient still will not let you take care of her. You must respect the
patients' rights and the privacy of each patient.
State my position--
My position-- I have been where this student is. It is not a very pleasant experience
for the patient or for you. The only things that the student could do
is let the experienced professional take over and observe the situation and learn.
also, wish the patient the very best and tell them that you hope that they
recover soon and leave to go home.
Every day is a learning experience whether you are a student or a seasoned professional.
We must adapt to each situation and make the best possible decision for all
concerned.
CASE STUDY # 3
This case does not justify any lying on anyone's part. Just because the woman
is feble and frail, she needs to be treated with respect and dignity and
told what has happened by the supervisor in a kind, considerate, manner.
The nursing supervisor must be professional in her treatment of the husbands'
wife. She should have been brought into the room by the appropriate personnel
and told that her husband has passed away. Perhaps, the nursing personnel
meant well, but I feel that they did more of an injustice that a justice to
the woman. I know that this exact thing does happen, even in the hospital,
as is evident in the court case in Miami where the father of a critically
injured boy was not told that his son was in the same hospital and later died.
what is even worse is the boys' organs were donated and the father claimed that
he did not even give his consent based on their culture of being Jamaican.
All healthcare professionals must treat all patients with respect no matter the
circumstances.
3b). If I were working on the floor where this occured, i would have informed the
floor supervisor as to what just happened. It is imperative that the woman
know that her husband has passed away. The notification must be professional
and considerate on all parties involved.We have to put ourselves in the womans'
position reverse the tables. would we want to be deceived as she was,
or told the truth. Most of the healthcare professional that I deal with
fall into the kind and considerate category and we must treat all the patients
that we deal with dignity and kindness.