PHIL 210 Module Three Discussion: What would you do?

Introduction to PHIL 210 Module Three Discussion

PHIL 210 Module Three Discussion: What would you do? Discusses that in healthcare, professionals frequently face situations requiring quick, ethical, and legally sound decisions. This Owlisdom How-To Guide addresses common ethical dilemmas encountered in patient interactions, providing clear guidelines for responding to challenging scenarios. Through these scenarios, you will learn to navigate legal requirements and ethical principles to ensure patient well-being and compliance with healthcare standards.

Scenario 1:  A woman presents to a healthcare provider, giving a female name. She shows a drivers’ license that indicates her gender is “male.” Staff members recognize that this is a transgender female. The patient overhears the medical staff asking each other which name and gender pronouns they should use when talking to or about the patient. The staff’s discomfort causes the patient to feel uncomfortable. Legally, how should the staff address the patient? How should the patient information be entered into the medical record? What can staff do going forward to help the patient feel welcome?

Scenario 1: Addressing Transgender Patients

To start the PHIL 210 Module Three Discussion: What would you do? We will discuss each scenario one by one. In this scenario we will discuss addressing a transgender patient.

• Use the patient’s chosen name and gender pronouns, as mandated by non-discrimination laws. This respects the patient’s gender identity and aligns with legal obligations.
• Record the patient’s legal name and gender as per their identification documents for official purposes, while noting their chosen name and pronouns in the medical record to ensure respectful and accurate communication.
• Train staff on cultural competence and sensitivity, focusing on respectful interactions and the importance of using correct names and pronouns. Implement policies that support inclusivity and reduce discomfort for transgender patients.

Example

Scenario 1: Addressing Transgender Patients

When a transgender woman presents with a driver’s license indicating male gender, the staff should address her by her chosen name and pronouns, adhering to non-discrimination laws. Legally, this respect aligns with her gender identity. The patient’s legal name and gender should be recorded as per identification documents, but her chosen name and pronouns should be noted for respectful communication. To foster a welcoming environment, staff should undergo training on cultural competence and sensitivity, ensuring they interact respectfully and inclusively.

Scenario 2: Let’s assume you are working for a healthcare clinic.  A coworker you consider a good friend is a nurse and looks upset. Noticing their demeanor, you ask if everything is okay. They respond by telling you an 11-year-old patient with leg pain has come to the clinic with his mom. The mom has described her son as a jokester-type of kid who “falls down a lot” and “plays rough with his siblings.” Your friend goes on to say that the X-rays showed one new fracture along with several old fractures. When the mom steps out of the exam room, the patient says his injuries are not “accidents.” How do you advise your co-worker? If the kid is a jokester, could this be his immature way of pulling a prank? Could your colleague be held liable if it turns out the kid is pulling a giant prank? If they don’t report it, and it’s not a prank, what is their liability?

Scenario 2: Addressing Suspected Child Abuse

Next, in PHIL 210 Module Three Discussion: What would you do? We will discuss addressing a patient who is a child abuse suspect.

• Encourage your co-worker to follow mandatory reporting laws by reporting the suspected abuse to child protective services or appropriate authorities. Provide support in documenting the observations and patient statements.
• Take all claims of abuse seriously. Even if the child has a history of joking, the presence of multiple fractures necessitates a thorough investigation. Prioritize the child’s safety and well-being.
• Explain that failing to report suspected abuse can result in legal consequences for the healthcare provider. Reporting protects both the child and the healthcare provider from potential liability.

Example

Scenario 2: Addressing Suspected Child Abuse

In the case of an 11-year-old with suspicious fractures, advise your co-worker to report the suspected abuse to child protective services, as mandated by law. Document observations and patient statements meticulously. Despite the child’s history of joking, multiple fractures warrant a serious investigation, prioritizing the child’s safety. Failure to report suspected abuse can result in legal consequences for the healthcare provider while reporting protects both the child and the provider from liability.

Scenario 3:  Those with Medicare and Medicaid are typically the elderly, the disabled, or those from low-income households – the epitome of vulnerable populations. However, we, the taxpayers, subsidize the cost of these programs. Now, consider the times when a patient may be eligible for certain procedures or protocols even though the long-term benefits of those costly services cannot be guaranteed. This can happen if the provider deems the procedure a medical necessity. Should an elderly patient be given an organ transplant? What about indefinite life support being given to a brain-dead patient?  Should these insurers be required to pay for a procedure regardless of long-term payoff?

Scenario 3: Healthcare Decisions for Vulnerable Populations

In this scenario of PHIL 210 Module Three Discussion: What would you do? We will discuss the healthcare decisions that healthcare professionals have to make for vulnerable papulations of patients.

• Evaluate the patient’s overall health, potential for recovery, and quality of life post-transplant. Consider ethical principles of beneficence (doing good) and justice (fair allocation of resources).
• Discuss with family members and the healthcare team the patient’s prognosis, quality of life, and previously expressed wishes. Use ethical principles of autonomy (respecting patient’s wishes) and non-maleficence (avoiding harm).
• Consider the cost-benefit ratio of procedures and the ethical implications of resource allocation. Insurers should balance providing necessary care with the sustainable use of funds guided by principles of justice and fairness.

Example

Scenario 3: Healthcare Decisions for Vulnerable Populations

For elderly patients needing organ transplants or brain-dead patients on life support, decisions should be guided by ethical principles. Evaluate the patient’s health, recovery potential, and quality of life post-transplant. Discuss the prognosis, quality of life, and patient’s wishes with the family and healthcare team. Decisions should balance beneficence, autonomy, and non-maleficence. Insurers should consider the cost-benefit ratio of procedures and ethical resource allocation, balancing necessary care with sustainable fund use guided by justice and fairness.

Scenario 4: A family recently emigrated from Taiwan to Des Moines, IA. Two months after their arrival, the mother fell ill and was diagnosed with a metastatic gastric ulcer. The daughter, who was instrumental in bringing the family to Iowa, is a nurse employed in the coronary care unit. The family asked the oncologist and oncology nurse to relay all information to the daughter rather than the patient. What legal violation(s) would occur if the request is granted? What ethical principles would be violated if the information was withheld from the mother?

Scenario 4: Patient Information Confidentiality

Here, in PHIL 210 Module Three Discussion: What would you do? We will discuss patient information confidentiality.

• Inform the family that the patient has the right to receive information about their own health. Withholding information without the patient’s consent can lead to legal violations of patient rights and confidentiality laws.
• Uphold the ethical principles of autonomy (respecting the patient’s right to know and make decisions) and beneficence (acting in the patient’s best interest). Ensure that information is communicated directly to the patient unless they explicitly designate a representative.

Example

Scenario 4: Patient Information Confidentiality

For a newly emigrated family asking to relay medical information to a daughter rather than the patient, inform them that the patient has the right to know about their own health. Withholding information without consent violates patient rights and confidentiality laws. Uphold ethical principles of autonomy and beneficence by ensuring direct communication with the patient unless they designate a representative.

Closing 

Healthcare professionals must navigate complex ethical and legal landscapes in patient care. This How-To Guide of PHIL 210 Module Three Discussion: What would you do? Has provided structured approaches to addressing ethical dilemmas in diverse scenarios, emphasizing the importance of legal compliance, ethical principles, and patient-centered care. By applying these guidelines, you will be better equipped to make informed, ethical decisions that uphold the integrity of the healthcare profession. You can also read PHIL 210 next module three paper on Healthcare Reform & Death with Dignity?