Patient Ethics Essay

Past physicians carried a certain authority over the treatment given to patients, however, due to medical progressivism, patients are given more rights to determine the treatments they can accept. Although these steps are certainly in the right direction, there has been a certain ethical dilemma as many doctors are forced to accept patient demands even when it is not the best course of action (Gawande 216). It is easy for us to affirm certain platitudes about patient interests being first in healthcare, but it is also important to investigate the specific nuances of patient care. In many situations, the patient truly is not well versed enough to make decisions about their care (227). While sometimes patients may truly be thankful for a physician’s intervention, any autonomous decision by physicians creates a dangerous precedent for doctor intervention in patient care.

After reading the case study related to this assignment and other related articles and talking to co-workers, I realized there are many around us that ethical principle were somehow violated on them. Despite most nurses’ best efforts to make ethical decisions; they might not be able to make the right decision. As it was mentioned in the case study, nurses might feel their job will be jeopardized if they go against higher authorities’ will. If they lose their job, they cannot be useful for themselves or for other patients. This problem takes me back to the title of section three of doing the right thing, “if we know what is right, can we do it?...

In "right to die" situations the doctors seem to be getting too involved in compassion and passions with their patients. We need to stay focused on what our jobs are and what we are promoting which is to provide healthcare and its services to members of the communities. Counselors are also treating some of their clients with no authorization of the values and beliefs they have. On the other hand, there are some staff members within the hospital who refuse to serve patients unless they have confirmed insurance coverage. If a patient is to pass away because of unauthorized decisions, this can cause a stir with the media as well as with current or future patients in the community.

It is unclear if there is underlying problems going on,... ... middle of paper ... ...preserve the relationship he/she has with the doctor. It seems like an impossible decision; however, with the above analysis it is clear that the PA needs to report the discrepancy and side with what is best for the patient. As medical providers, it is important to put the patient before all else, and to put this patient through different tests and treatments for something that is easily explainable is unacceptable. Besides, if this doctor came to the operating room intoxicated, the doctor needs to be reported before major complications befall a patient. Granted, the PA may lose this well-paying job, but it would be unethical to covet such a thing above the life of an innocent patient.

They just want to die instead of suffering those medical treatments. In that time, the patients’ family just believes in the doctors and tells them to do whatever they can, but the doctors just do something that 's possible. Almost patients have died after that expensive medical treatments, but the doctors still do those medical procedures. That doctors did not have enough confidence to tell the truth to the patients’ families. Other doctors have more confidence, so they explain the health condition to the patients’ families.

Insurance companies are continually looking for ways to reduce their costs, and the most common way is to second-guess the doctors' opinions or to approve the minimum treatments necessary. This has created a crisis in American medicine in which doctors feel they must be dishonest with the insurance companies in order to be the "good guy" to their patients. Does the end justify the mean? After all, these doctors seem to have a good reason for lying. They are trying to help someone, right?

Another group I would like to reach are the skeptical doctors, like mine. Maybe if they could see some research into the subject, they may not be as close minded. This is a topic close to home for me, as I to have been frustrated with medicine as a whole. I am currently battling an illness that doctors cannot diagnose. My lab values change every time they think they have an answer, prompting them to start all over.

(Timby, 2008) In critical and complicating medical cases, family members often find it tedious to decide as to what mode or procedure of treatment is idyllic for the recovery of their patient. In such cases, well-qualified and medically educated can play a pivotal role in deciding the kind of treatment that should be given to the patient to enhance its recovery. In a contrary situation a nurse may know that administering a particular drug may improve the patient’s condition, but may be refrained from conducting the required action due to doctor’s absence or non-permission. There are numerous cases through which ethical dilemmas in the profession of nursing can be discussed. Nurses in order to remain within the defined boundaries ... ... middle of paper ... ...l dilemma at organizational level and nurses are forced to abide to it.

Autonomy is cannot be achieved if any of the above listed malpractices occur. The patient cannot make an informed decision about their care if they are not given correct information. Beneficence is void in these cases as well. If a doctor disregards test and lab results or prescribes the wrong medication or more of the medication then the patient needs the doctor is not acting in the best interest of the patient. All of the above things listed void non-maleficence.

Physician-Assisted Suicide In today's society, a very controversial issue is physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. Many people feel that it is wrong for people, regardless of their health situation, to ask their doctor or attendant to end their life. Others feel it is their right to be able to choose how and when they die. When a doctor is asked to help a patient to their death, they have certain responsibilities that come along with it. Among these duties, they must prove valid information as to the terminal illness the patient is suffering.