Discussion 6. Ethics

My course is Ethics of Healthcare – Master of Health Administration.

a. Directly posting their own responses as answers to the questions below. Write in no more than 600 words but no less than 500 words.

  1. The term “competency” used in health care setting is not global but narrow and specific. When the patient is considered “competent” it only means that the patient is mentally well enough to make autonomous decisions on his or her own medical affairs. To test it,clinical bioethicists use and recommend the three criteria for patient’s competence: 1) if the patient is oriented x 3, that is, understanding person, place, date/time, 2) if the patient understands the benefits and risks of the treatments and procedures, and 3) if the patient understands the consequences of the actions. Give practical examples for each criterion.
  2. Although health care law varies depending on states, they share the most basic concepts. One of them is the legal viewpoints about patient competency. Concerning whether the patient’s competence is “global” which is either competent or not competent or “fluid” which is in-between or not entirely clear, Pennsylvania State says it is “fluid” which means that the patient’s competence can change over time. Why is that? Explain.
  3. Brainstorm exercise: imagine that you are now 80 years old and consider answers to the following questions. a. What health problems would you face? b.What is your expectation of the health care system? c. What worries you most as you age? Now switch roles and think of yourself as a professional who serves the need of those who are 80 and older. Now answer the following: a. What is your average day like in your practice? b. What concerns do you have about working with this population? c. What ethical issues bother you the most?

b. Reply to at least one classmate in no more than 200 words but no less than 150 words.

My classmate Discussion:

1- In this situation as a provider it is in my best interest to serve the patients’ needs whether it is physical or mental treatment. As a provider I would have the knowledge and bed side manner etiquette to evaluate the three criteria to follow through the projected treatments for their ailment. The approach to rate the patient’s orientation to measure whether they known or not who they are, where they are and what is wrong with them in a conversational format would be an efficient way to tell if their minds are intact. Secondly, by conveying a discussion about what the patient is going through emotionally and physically and then weighing out the pros and cons of various treatments and by ensuring they are the final decision makers could greatly show their understanding and ability to make a decision without impacting their decision or opinion. Lastly, the consequences of the actions that have been decided for treatment should be established in either black or white, in addition to establishing the consequences when the conversation was being conducted by the provider.

2- In order for any individual to be competent in simple situations or situations that involve life and death means the competency should be one hundred percent due to the mental health evaluated of the patient by a psychiatrist. Unfortunately, regardless of the law, when an individual change their mind it is due to their mental state, emotional state and what they are going through medication wise as well. This again is all up to the professionals on whether the patient needs to get reevaluated or not. The mental state of a patient can dramatically decline in many scenarios, especially trauma cases in which they are unable to make their own decisions and are not competent. If a specific treatment needs to be implemented, then the healthcare professionals need to do what they are trained to do to improve the predicament they are put into depending on the scenario.

3- Being an 80-year-old female, I would be facing various chronic conditions due to the slowly rising concerns for preventative care and how to utilize the products and services newly established, which would be more difficult as a geriatric. The expectations that I would have for the healthcare system would be high, but unfortunately would be let down because of the costs that are being put into my care versus the quality and amount of care that I am getting in reality. The worries that would come up at 80 years old would be the accuracy of care that I need and if the quality of care that would be provided would be reflected by my cost of care in which I would have no control over. Being a healthcare professional with the ability to provide care, juggling many hats and being one of all trades would be on my daily to do list and make sure every patient and employee is being catered to. Working with a geriatric population would concern me due to the liability and sensitivity this specific group of individuals have. The ethical issues arise with my concerns, in addition to making sure the right employees are taken on to this challenge in which abide to all rules and regulations to make sure no one is being taken advantage of.