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Law and Ethics Case Study

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Submitted By kflyy
Words 509
Pages 3
Kacey Pierre
July 31, 2012
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Case #6

As providers and health care professionals, there will be many times when we will be faced with decisions that need to be made in the best interest of the patient. Moreover, there may be rare occasions when we will have to make decisions in order to protect a patient’s dignity or self esteem. Although the primary goal as providers and health care professionals is to deliver quality healthcare to patients while honoring autonomy and honesty and keeping the patient thoroughly informed, in special cases such as this one, it is a more beneficial to the patient for the provider to refrain from disclosing his current health condition to him. This case was about a 69 year old male that is diagnosed with cancer of the prostate, at which point, is inoperable and incurable. He has no living relatives, his wife is passed away, and he estranged from his children. This patient has proven incapable of making sound decisions when he is presented with devastating news. He is neurotic and has a history of psychiatric disease. He had previously attempted suicide and suffered from serious depression for a long period of time both after receiving news of his wife’s death and anytime he is informed of any serious health problems. Under normal circumstances, a physician or any healthcare provider is required to keep the patient fully informed of their health condition, whether it be good or bad. We as professionals are required to respect a patient’s autonomy, especially through informed consent, no matter what a physician’s decision may be as to provide or withhold treatment for whatever appropriate reason. However, every patient; hence, every case will be different. In this case the patient, first and foremost, has a condition at which point is deemed incurable, inoperable and essentially un treatable at this point. I support the

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