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Create a post 137 words for each of the following discucion post:
1.https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/how-should-clinicians-respond-patient-interest-dietary-supplements-treat-serious-chronic-illness/2022-05
I have decided to choose the article titled “How should clinicians respond to patient interest in dietary supplements to treat serious chronic illness?” Firstly, when it comes to the basis of informed consent I immediately think of the simplified definition that it is essentially the very important process in which the patient is given information from their clinician about all the possible risks and benefits about either a medical treatment or procedure so that the patient can fully decide for themselves whether or not they want to be treated or tested. This puts the power and autonomy in the patients’ hands when they can have sufficient enough understanding and information before they make the decisions regarding their own personal health care. To me, this is one of the essential components to proper medical care and treatment because we all deserve to know as much as we can before making major decisions about our health. I was very surprised to read that “Informed consent is still seen as bureaucratic legalism rather than as part of patient care” (Vaughn 228)
I suppose that from my own personal perspective, I just know that I believe in the fact that every patient has the right to know everything that is going on regarding the important aspect of themselves that is their health, but I am also aware that there is way more to it than that a lot of times and with different patients and/or cases in medicine. For instance, there are certain factors that clinicians cannot control in regards to what they currently know about what the potential risks and/or benefits of a medical treatment such as a lack of data out there, for example. Furthermore, the metaphor from Jay Katz regarding the topic of informed consent through the channel of communication that is conversations, is also another factor that can come into play when we talk about informed consent “Just as the specific needs of an individual patient for information, or the meaning that patient will attach to the information as it is presented, cannot be known in advance, one cannot always tell in advance how a conversation is going to turn out.” (Vaughn 230). I feel as if this is pretty self explanatory in that clinicians cannot control how a conversation goes or what the patient will take away from it in the end.
In the case that I chose about how clinicians should respond to the patients that want to pursue dietary supplements as a treatment for their chronic illness, this was something I think most, if not all of us can understand. If you were not already aware, lots of the vitamins and supplements we can get at our local supermarket or health food store that are marketed towards benefitting our health says clearly on the packaging that essentially, the supplement has not been approved by the FDA and is not intended to cure or treat a disease. Regardless of this fact, lots of us take these supplements daily to try and optimize our health and a lot of people can attest to the benefits they bring even though they have not gone through all the trials and different regulations to get them approved by the FDA. So, in regards to the case of “Mr. R” going to see his doctor about wanting to start a supplement that is marketed towards lowering his blood sugar to treat his diabetes, it is easy (and understandable) for the clinician to be hesitant about giving him the go-ahead to start these supplements but I feel that if the clinician is candid about the potential risks and benefits pertaining to the supplement that he is aware of currently, then he is doing the right thing in regards to the basis of informed consent.
Regardless of if “Mr. R” goes ahead with the supplementation or not after hearing all of the information the clinician can provide about potential risks and/or benefits, it would still, to me, be informed consent because “Mr. R” has all of the information about possible risks and/or benefits that he can possibly get from his clinician and can then go ahead and make the decision for himself and his health going forward. While the clinician cannot control what his patient does when it comes to their decisions regarding their health when he leaves the office, he can do his best to inform and educate as thoroughly as he can so that the decision is left to that of his patient and it is up to them to decide what is best for themselves and their very specific and personal case.
2.I will discuss the case titled “Informed Consent for a Terminal Patient” which can be found here: https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/cases/informed-consent-terminal-patient.
This case highlights the ethical implications of informed consent in the context of a terminal patient. The patient, Mr. Green, has terminal lung cancer and is seeking treatment from a palliative care team. The team recommends a new experimental treatment that has not been fully tested but shows promise for managing Mr. Green’s symptoms.
As per the principles of informed consent, the healthcare provider must inform the patient of the benefits, risks, and alternatives of the proposed treatment and must obtain Mr. Green’s voluntary and informed consent before proceeding with the treatment. However, in this case, the patient is facing several challenges that could impact his ability to make a fully informed decision.
Firstly, Mr. Green is in a lot of pain and is taking strong pain medications, which could impact his cognitive function and ability to understand the information being presented to him. Secondly, he is emotionally distressed due to his terminal condition and may not be in the best frame of mind to make a decision. Lastly, Mr. Green’s family is pressuring him to undergo the experimental treatment, and this external pressure could affect his autonomy in decision-making.
In this scenario, the healthcare provider faces an ethical dilemma regarding informed consent. On one hand, they must respect Mr. Green’s autonomy and right to make an informed decision about his own care. On the other hand, they must consider his current emotional and physical state and the potential impact it may have on his ability to make a fully informed decision.
This case highlights the importance of informed consent in healthcare and the complexities that can arise in obtaining it. In such situations, healthcare providers must take extra care to ensure that the patient has all the information they need to make a decision, and must also consider the patient’s emotional and physical state before proceeding with any treatment.
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