Medical Expenses Barriers The United States lamentably is a Country, that doesn’t have a program designed to prevent their citizens from having to live without health care insurance. There are many reasons that contribute to being unable to obtain medical attention, but one of the most evident is the inability to afford health care insurance. Although there are both private and public insurances, the minority class tends to be trapped in the middle, and that is due to the fact that most of this population consists of people that are paid a minimal amount. According to Kendall (2008), “Despite
When he answered the phone call it was a patient asking to get a refill on a prescription. This prescription was a controlled substance called Valium. Jerry is well aware that Valium is a drug that can be addictive and the only person who can prescribe this controlled substance is Dr. William’s because he is a licensed doctor. As Jerry is still on the phone with the patient he will have to let he or she know that because the prescription is a controlled substance and there are no more refills Dr. Williams will have to prescribe it himself. Jerry still wants to help the patient but as he still knows that he is not licensed to prescribe any medication to any patient.
Ethical Implications of a Breach of Confidentiality Confidentiality is the right of every patient. According to various laws, it is unacceptable to disclose the medical information to a third party without the consent from the patient. Law protects patient's right for keeping their vital information confidently. Healthcare staff should respect and protect patient's confidentiality. According to American nurses association disclosing patient's details without their permission is considering breach of confidentiality (ANA, 2012).
He is not covered by the medical insurance scheme that can offset the medical bill. As a medical practitioner, what action does one take? The medical practitioner has to ensure that the actions that he takes abide by the law of the land, that they are ethically sound and justifiable and also do not violate the hospital policy. In many healthcare institutions there are limited funds and making a decision to treat a patient free of charge would likely get a practitioner in trouble with the hospitals administration. There are legal issues tied to this scenario.
It is important that information is only shared with people “who need to know”. If you are uncertain whether a person has a right to access information and is requesting information from you, always check with your supervisor or manager. In day to day communication it is strict policy of midstream that you do not discuss any important information about a clients lifestyle or regarding important information as this is their right to remain any of this information confidential and is part of the regulations of The Human Rights Act 1998. Information that has to be kept confidential on a day to day basis can be shared with agreed others on any other basis as a need to know basis, this is if ever an authoritative body needs to get involved such as social services, ambulance, police or any other multi-agency network. The agreed others in which confidential information can be shared on a need to know basis are: Work Colleagues, social workers, occupational therapist, GP, Speech and Language Therapist, Physiotherapist, pharmacist, nurse, special nurse, psychologist, psychiatrist, advocate, dementia care advisor or family and carers.
There are several important reasons why patient confidentiality should be respected. First, breaching a patient’s confidentiality destroys trust, which is an important aspect in physician-patient relationships. Second, if this trust is breached, patients may have a difficult time trusting doctors and disclosing pertinent information in the future. Lastly, betraying a patient’s trust this way is in direct opposition to that individual’s right for autonomy. There are many instances on a daily basis where patients’ medical data must be disclosed.
The husband wanted to save his wife, but on the other hand, their children belief that their mom wants a quality of life with dignity. When a nurses engaged such a complex ethical situation, the Ethical Committee resources included multidisciplinary groups that are needed to assist patient and family. Based on statutory law, patients have the right to make a decision to withdraw or withhold any treatment (Blais & Hayes, 2011). In the case study of Marianne, the patient do not have advanced directive on file, therefore, the statutory laws are not against family's decision related to her care. The nurse can only educate and provide information and be the patients' advocate.
It challenges trust between doctor and patient. We expect physicians to heal and preserve life, not to kill on request. I reply that I want to be able to trust my doctor to do what is best for me in every situation. I would not ask a doctor to do anything illegal, but if physician-assisted death were permitted by law, I would not want to be abandoned in my final hours. The main reason I’m against assisted suicide is Its God's place to decide the time and place of a person's death.
The patient constantly asks the medical assistant about her step daughter. However the doctor told the medical assistant not to tell the patient about her step daughter’s death without giving any reasons for such instructions. Hence, the medical assistant encounters an uncomfortable position of whether to tell the truth or withhold it. The moral principles in conflict are honesty and loyalty because the medical assistant wants to be honest with the patient without being disloyal to the doctor. Another issue of conflict is breach of confidentiality.
Joe Messeri, writer for the Balanced Politics web site wrote, “The Constitution of the United States neither states nor implies of the governments right to keep a person from committing suicide.” When long suffering in-patients and loved ones concur on a course of action to be taken, after all other medical avenues have been taken, the psychological state of both parties should take precedence (Messeri, 2006). Life Support…Helping People Live and Enjoy Life Although often associated with terminally ill patients, life support equipment also plays a much broader and utilitarian role with a variety of purposes. The preservation of life through such equipment can enable people with disabilities to lead a normal life, according to what they consider normal, but the same life support systems equipment used to prolong life can also take life. In order to maintain a good quality of life while utilizing these systems, there are a few tips to follow. For safety reasons, always ensure the equipment is secured and if a chain is used, it must be welded in place and not bent.