This I Believe
Rights of patients and physicians
Patient autonomy, truth-telling, and confidentiality
I work in the health c are field and patient privacy is a big deal. People should be able to be taken care of and address their needs in a safe environment. Sometimes I can be difficult when the patient does not want to share old medical history during treatment. But, if somehow, we made all our information public there would be so much judgement for what we are or how we suffer. We could potentially not get a job because you have an illness that some jobs may be biased to higher some else less qualified to do the job.
Medical research ethics and informed consent
In the health care, it is very important for patients to know what they are signing up for. During a surgery when they tell you the possible things that could go wrong, patient’s need to know what they can expect. If a patient does happen to go south and the surgeon must do something else to save you life, it can be traumatic to wake up if it was something not expected. An informed patient would not sign up for something they could possible not handle. They have the right to know what they are signing up and the rating of the risks. If someone was to say you only have a 12 percent coming out of a surgery alive, a potential patient could decide to spend life instead with family for what could be remaining. Not informing patients takes away that right of their control.
Controls
Genetic control
Genetic control is anything that deals with other people’s genetics to turn out different. In IVF, some people almost have genetic control because the embryos have already grown in the lab. Parents at that point can decide to try for the 3 embryos of two girls and a boy or possible decide not to implant the baby boy at all. I believe that genetics should not be controlled. Later in life, when I may need to do IVF, I will want all my child and I wouldn’t even think of that choice. If we controlled genetics even more, society could turn out completely different. We are already, slowly through time, evolving through our genetics to overpower illnesses that arise in this world. I know that people say by genetic control, we can help with illnesses. That is what I believe what makes us human though. Sometimes illness can cause people to be wonderful and look at life in a different light. Whereas, if we changed that, people could be different because there is no risk in life.
Reproductive control
Reproductive control is going to be a necessary measure for me to have children. I will have to do IVF to have a baby after everything else has already failed me. I do believe that people should be able to have that option to have a baby and the joy that they could bring to that new member of family. I would not want to throw away my child, so I don’t like the idea of controlling the genetics that could go into making that person who they were meant to be in the first place. I believe that we should love people for who they are and their illness all together.
Terminations
Abortion
Abortion is a very hard subject for me. I could never personally have some if my baby was still living. I have lost three children that never made it past the first three trimesters, and I miss them every day. I know that in some cases it is medically necessary for them to occur to save the mother. Also, there are times in the medical field, where unfortunately the baby didn’t make it. To remove that baby, they still must perform an abortion to remove them before causing infection to the mother. Abortion has a bad record that it should receive because it is a medical term. Sometimes they are medically needed. It should be someone’s choice and we shouldn’t take that away. Making someone do something they don’t want to do, like have a child, it not emotionally healthy for her.
Treating or terminating impaired infants
I believe in treating impaired infants. We should do everything we can to save a life in every decision. It is hard to watch them go through sickness. Treatment should also be done contacting the parents. I believe that children have life after being conceived, before there is even a heartbeat. Life is still growing at the beginning, prior to that point. Also, disabled child are still wonderful people that have meaning in this life. I have cared for some wonderful disabled people and those are some of the best moments I have had in life thus far.
Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
I do not believe in euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. Many people can overcome problems that lower quality of life. Quality of life can always improve. There are many road maps and choices that change life and can make it better. People who have wanted to die can, in time, later be glad that they didn’t make that choice.
Resources
Organ transplants and scarce medical resources
Payment to organ donors or their families should be an option. I do not think payment should be required when it comes to an organ transplant from a donor that has passed. Also, the families should have the right to opt out of donation if they chose too. Many times, it can go against religious views and those opinions should be respected.
Distributing health care (How it should be allocated based on age/status/ability to pay)
Allocation of health care should not be considered based on a person’s age, quality of life, ability to pay. I believe that wanting this to not to happen is nearly impossible to not base anything health care wise on age. Age plays a big part is success rates. Quality of life is what we strive for in healthcare. We want the best outcome, so lifestyle preference doesn’t have to change. Finally, the ability to pay is what runs healthcare. Everyone must make an income in life to provide for themselves. The only way I could see that changing is free health care that everyone is equally given.
Challenges
Health care for women
Health care for women could always improve. I am not biased for men or women. I think health care in generally is always changing and trying to improve. Through science, they are always trying to find more information about what the body is doing and many things that they are not sure what causes disease. I do see the concern about the hormone imbalances in women changing and how they can affect health care and treatment. Everyone will just need more time to gain more knowledge upon those issues.
Health care for minorities
Healthcare for minorities should be equal for everyone. Healthcare should be a flat rate across hospitals and insurance in the field. Minorites should have the same treatment opportunities. Race should never play a part in available healthcare. Healthcare should be a part of everyone rights. A patient should never have to walk away from a care center for having no insurance or feeling like they can’t have the same care as everyone else due to who they are.
Health care for and responsibilities of those with AIDS/HIV
Those with AIDS and HIV should still receive standard care. Their privacy should remain protected. They also need to be able to understand the health care risk that they could produce. They need to be careful and not impose or infringe on others from protection from it. They should not be discriminated against. They should also be able to receive proper treatment for quality of life.
Rights of patients and physicians
Patient autonomy, truth-telling, and confidentiality
I work in the health c are field and patient privacy is a big deal. People should be able to be taken care of and address their needs in a safe environment. Sometimes I can be difficult when the patient does not want to share old medical history during treatment. But, if somehow, we made all our information public there would be so much judgement for what we are or how we suffer. We could potentially not get a job because you have an illness that some jobs may be biased to higher some else less qualified to do the job.
Medical research ethics and informed consent
In the health care, it is very important for patients to know what they are signing up for. During a surgery when they tell you the possible things that could go wrong, patient’s need to know what they can expect. If a patient does happen to go south and the surgeon must do something else to save you life, it can be traumatic to wake up if it was something not expected. An informed patient would not sign up for something they could possible not handle. They have the right to know what they are signing up and the rating of the risks. If someone was to say you only have a 12 percent coming out of a surgery alive, a potential patient could decide to spend life instead with family for what could be remaining. Not informing patients takes away that right of their control.
Controls
Genetic control
Genetic control is anything that deals with other people’s genetics to turn out different. In IVF, some people almost have genetic control because the embryos have already grown in the lab. Parents at that point can decide to try for the 3 embryos of two girls and a boy or possible decide not to implant the baby boy at all. I believe that genetics should not be controlled. Later in life, when I may need to do IVF, I will want all my child and I wouldn’t even think of that choice. If we controlled genetics even more, society could turn out completely different. We are already, slowly through time, evolving through our genetics to overpower illnesses that arise in this world. I know that people say by genetic control, we can help with illnesses. That is what I believe what makes us human though. Sometimes illness can cause people to be wonderful and look at life in a different light. Whereas, if we changed that, people could be different because there is no risk in life.
Reproductive control
Reproductive control is going to be a necessary measure for me to have children. I will have to do IVF to have a baby after everything else has already failed me. I do believe that people should be able to have that option to have a baby and the joy that they could bring to that new member of family. I would not want to throw away my child, so I don’t like the idea of controlling the genetics that could go into making that person who they were meant to be in the first place. I believe that we should love people for who they are and their illness all together.
Terminations
Abortion
Abortion is a very hard subject for me. I could never personally have some if my baby was still living. I have lost three children that never made it past the first three trimesters, and I miss them every day. I know that in some cases it is medically necessary for them to occur to save the mother. Also, there are times in the medical field, where unfortunately the baby didn’t make it. To remove that baby, they still must perform an abortion to remove them before causing infection to the mother. Abortion has a bad record that it should receive because it is a medical term. Sometimes they are medically needed. It should be someone’s choice and we shouldn’t take that away. Making someone do something they don’t want to do, like have a child, it not emotionally healthy for her.
Treating or terminating impaired infants
I believe in treating impaired infants. We should do everything we can to save a life in every decision. It is hard to watch them go through sickness. Treatment should also be done contacting the parents. I believe that children have life after being conceived, before there is even a heartbeat. Life is still growing at the beginning, prior to that point. Also, disabled child are still wonderful people that have meaning in this life. I have cared for some wonderful disabled people and those are some of the best moments I have had in life thus far.
Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
I do not believe in euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. Many people can overcome problems that lower quality of life. Quality of life can always improve. There are many road maps and choices that change life and can make it better. People who have wanted to die can, in time, later be glad that they didn’t make that choice.
Resources
Organ transplants and scarce medical resources
Payment to organ donors or their families should be an option. I do not think payment should be required when it comes to an organ transplant from a donor that has passed. Also, the families should have the right to opt out of donation if they chose too. Many times, it can go against religious views and those opinions should be respected.
Distributing health care (How it should be allocated based on age/status/ability to pay)
Allocation of health care should not be considered based on a person’s age, quality of life, ability to pay. I believe that wanting this to not to happen is nearly impossible to not base anything health care wise on age. Age plays a big part is success rates. Quality of life is what we strive for in healthcare. We want the best outcome, so lifestyle preference doesn’t have to change. Finally, the ability to pay is what runs healthcare. Everyone must make an income in life to provide for themselves. The only way I could see that changing is free health care that everyone is equally given.
Challenges
Health care for women
Health care for women could always improve. I am not biased for men or women. I think health care in generally is always changing and trying to improve. Through science, they are always trying to find more information about what the body is doing and many things that they are not sure what causes disease. I do see the concern about the hormone imbalances in women changing and how they can affect health care and treatment. Everyone will just need more time to gain more knowledge upon those issues.
Health care for minorities
Healthcare for minorities should be equal for everyone. Healthcare should be a flat rate across hospitals and insurance in the field. Minorites should have the same treatment opportunities. Race should never play a part in available healthcare. Healthcare should be a part of everyone rights. A patient should never have to walk away from a care center for having no insurance or feeling like they can’t have the same care as everyone else due to who they are.
Health care for and responsibilities of those with AIDS/HIV
Those with AIDS and HIV should still receive standard care. Their privacy should remain protected. They also need to be able to understand the health care risk that they could produce. They need to be careful and not impose or infringe on others from protection from it. They should not be discriminated against. They should also be able to receive proper treatment for quality of life.
This is ME Now.
Cultural, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Health Care
The overall impact this class has had on me:
The overall impact that this class has had on me was to provide me with more knowledge of some of the views that I already had or learned, that affect many of our lives. These issues included insurance coverage that I was unaware of the large issues that can come up when patients struggle to have insurance accept their health care needs. Surgeries that are needed to help the patients live a successful life are refused to receive them due to money issues and insurance companies not wanting to cover the cost. Also, the older you get and the more health care issues that come up, they view it as a discrepancy. They won’t cover a medical illness that was found before their coverage was used by the patient. That stops citizens from finding new jobs because the insurance change would cause them to not be covered for the illnesses that they are still suffering from at that time.
There are health care operations that insurance will not cover, for example for patients who choose to save someone by donating an organ, they run the risk of not having health insurance over possible kidney problems that could appear later. Lives are saved, but the cost can be to great that other patients will not donate organs because it will negatively impact them later.
The course also brought attention to other beliefs of religion that may be over looked. Patients can make decisions based off what their church says should be done. Other’s view medical changes to be the work of God and the other side can view it as going against God by having medical treatment. People have the right to their own beliefs and have the right to ask or deny treatment based off that. More importantly, this class gave me an insight to see both sides of any issue that appear and evaluate it.
- Reproductive control
- Something significant I learned: Eggs from a female ovum are valued at a large cost on the market. Women can be paid thousands of dollars from donating a set of eggs form a month of fertility treatment. Along with that, they accept the risks that come from donating, which could potential leave them barren. There are also women that donate their bodies to carry fetus for mothers who are not able to successfully carry their own children. There are risks that come from all the paths that are available for reproduction. One of the risks associated with sperm donation is that there could be the chance of becoming pregnant with the risk of incest. Sperm donations are made privately, and names are not given to the women. Women run the risk of becoming pregnant with some related to them without knowing and could possible pose health risks to the growth of their child.
- How my opinion has been affected: My opinion on reproductive control was not changed due to the information that was enlighten to me through this course. Without reproductive control, we would not have the options that are available to us today to help people become parents. Many options are available through IUI, IVF and surrogacy. The health care is available to provide a joy to people that may not be able to have children without the assistance that can sometimes be needed. Granted that there are risks with every choice or decision that is made, but some people view that it is worth the risk to have the family that they have always dreamed of.
- How my ability to discuss/analyze has improved: There is so much information that can be found regarding reproductive control. Another aspect of looking at genetic control is that countries will pick to terminate a pregnancy based off the race of the child. There is the aspect that the true joy of creating a child is lost through the process of fertility. We would hope that a child is brought into this world through love. Sometimes going through the conception process, love can become lacking based of the demand to perform. Families can lose the family connection due to sperm donation. Mothers that choose to opt for a sperm donation, can later be asked by the child about the origin of the father. Only to come up empty handed. The father cannot be located because the information is private and can leave the child wondering. Which can cause possible depression, loneliness, and belonging issues that sometimes can occur later in life through adolescence.
- Treating or terminating impaired infants
- Something significant I learned: A selection of people view impaired infants as a debt to society. They weight too heavily on medical coverage and are not worth saving. They don’t see the positive impact that they can make to society. Some view that the death of the impaired child would be better for society and for the child’s life. Other’s believe that they should be terminated based off the type of impairment. Conditions including anencephaly, being born without a brain, which results in death nor improvement for the patient, is one of the few conditions that some believe should be corrected by termination the fetus. Patients can be born with extreme health issues that could cause them to not live past the first few hours of birth.
- How my opinion has been affected: My opinion was not changed due to the information that was provided in this class. Impaired children and people can bring a lot of joy and wholesomeness to this world. I think that it is a personal choice for others to make. I personally would never terminate a child or family member due to these illnesses. Miracles can always happen, and medical science is always evolving to make the impossible, possible. I have also cared for impaired patients and have found that those were the best years of my working career thus far. They can bring a new outlook to life. Many impaired patients have a joy about life and a demeanor that cannot be found in others. Even though they may not have the life experiences that we have, they have a large value of personality that they share. There is also something to be said for the lack of communicate that impaired patients can have, or rather have. They may not be able to communicate that they understood what was said, but sometimes their demeanor can show that they have more understanding that initially is perceived.
- How my ability to discuss/analyze has improved: Absorbing knowledge on reasons why someone would want to terminate impaired patients can be hard to handle. They may see that it is the end results soon to come and may choose to pick terminating to prevent putting off the pain for themselves or the impaired patient. They may view that if the testing is done before the patient is born it stops the issue all together. This view arises a debate on the beliefs of when life starts. Some people believe that life does not start until the first breath is taken, or until a heartbeat can be found, or fertilization of the egg in the fallopian tube. Religious beliefs are a big role on how someone makes their choices in life and is a personal right that they have.
- Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
- Something significant I learned: I have learned that a majority of people that are considering physician assisted suicide are more likely desiring it because they will be dying of an illness or cancer that will kill them eventually in time. The patient could have been already suffering in severe pain or depression for years. They may take medication to fulfill physician assisted suicide and they must get examinations to assess state and mental status of their mind to receive assisted suicide measures. They always have the option to not go through with the process. They are asked step by step if they understand what they are doing and to reassure the health care manager that they are still wanting to fulfill the directive of ending their life.
- How my opinion has been affected: My opinion was affected because of the pain of the patients. I can’t imagine being in pain for years and having no way out. I think that it should be allowed as long as all other options have been approached. There are legal issues that make the issue hard to approach. Those that can answer that they still want to end their lives should be able to make that choice for themselves. I would hope I would never want it for myself, but it should be an option for others. There is something to be said about emotional pain being as painful as physical pain. No one should expect to continue to suffer throughout life.
- How my ability to discuss/analyze has improved: I have gained a lot of knowledge on being able to recognize why there is a need for physician assisted suicide. I believe that people should be able to make their own health care choices. I can see the impact that it can make on a family. It can bring peace for those that accept the process because they have that time to say good-bye to their family member. Other times, when death happens, it can be traumatic for others because it is sudden and not expected. I have watched people experience sudden lose and many people have regrets on not visiting sooner, or reconnected before the death.
- Organ transplants, scarce medical resources
- Something significant I learned: Money is a key eliminator in organ transplant. Transplants cost more that people could imagine. A heart transplant can cost in total around 150,000 dollars. Many people suffer waiting for an organ transplant and those that are rich can buy their way to the top. People can also judgmental on who should be able to get a transplant. I was very surprised that those that do donate an organ run the risk of losing insurance coverage. Since they could potential have health issues due to the donation later in life, insurance can choose not to cover those costs. People should not be held against trying to save someone’s life.
- How my opinion has been affected: My opinion was changed because the cost of organ donation is hard to completely understand. Unfortunately, not everything can be paid for by someone else or the government. There needs to be better programs that help fund and pay for parts of the donation process. And to reimburse those that donate a kidney for the time away from work and the cost of the healthcare follow up. Also, insurance should not be lost due to having your organ donated. Another issue is medical supplies not being available. Patients that need access to medical machines for dialysis should not be ranked because of where they live or their race. If a patient comes in needing dialysis, it should be in the order of either first come first serve, or who is needing the treatment the most at that given time. Mentally ill patients should be able to receive the treatment that is needed for them without decimation. Mentally ill patients are just as important to receive an organ donation as anyone else.
- How my ability to discuss/analyze has improved: My knowledge on the topic has grown by knowing other issues that present itself with scare resources and organ donation. Another large issue is that there are not many organs to donate. Some injuries make donation not available when considering donation of organs. There needs to be someone to allow the donation to occur in a certain amount of time for donation to be proceeded with. Other family members can gain money off selling the organs to help pay for other costs in life on the black market. There is the issue of rejecting the organ. The organ needs to be given to someone that can use the organ and not reject it. If it is rejected is can not be used on another patient.
- Distributing health care
- Something significant I learned: There are many places that do not have health care available to patients that others have the liberty of having access to. It is a need that should to be available to everyone. Many deaths can be avoided by health treatments. Some countries struggle to find the funding and opportunities to open health care centers to help treat patients. There is a struggle however on the health care rights that it should be provided to patients. All healthcare locations have the right to see you for certain life-threatening needs. However, they can refuse certain healthcare demands that may be less life threatening. That could be a cold or the need to for a healthcare physical, which would be deemed non-emergent.
- How my opinion has been affected: My opinion was not changed on what I believed for healthcare. I still believe that healthcare should be available for everyone who asks for it. It should not be based on age, race, or ethnicity. Others argue otherwise because there is a such a high demand for many needs that cannot all can be accommodated. There is a demand for legal assistance, education, and other needs that the government faces. There is a continuing debate on what the government can provide to citizens. There are also issues that arise on what insurance will cover based off the cost. Medical insurance should not be based on the illness. People who pay for health care and insurance should be able to access the health care needed no matter what the health care issue is. We are condemning people to pain and possible death by not covering at least part of the cost through insurance.
- How my ability to discuss/analyze has improved: Issues about healthcare cost is a large debate that may never be settled when it comes to what insurance will cover and the government will cover. Families used to be able to opt out of insurance because it could save them money, only to regret it later when health care issues arise. Being without insurance runs the risk of owing thousands and possibly struggling for years to overcome medical debt. There are also operations that are denied because of the age of the patient. Even though they are later in life and can pay for the procedure, health care will not allow a procedure to be done because as a society they cannot afford to pay for others that are that age to have the operation through funding. They place limits on what can be done for others to help cut costs and save money.
The overall impact this class has had on me:
The overall impact that this class has had on me was to provide me with more knowledge of some of the views that I already had or learned, that affect many of our lives. These issues included insurance coverage that I was unaware of the large issues that can come up when patients struggle to have insurance accept their health care needs. Surgeries that are needed to help the patients live a successful life are refused to receive them due to money issues and insurance companies not wanting to cover the cost. Also, the older you get and the more health care issues that come up, they view it as a discrepancy. They won’t cover a medical illness that was found before their coverage was used by the patient. That stops citizens from finding new jobs because the insurance change would cause them to not be covered for the illnesses that they are still suffering from at that time.
There are health care operations that insurance will not cover, for example for patients who choose to save someone by donating an organ, they run the risk of not having health insurance over possible kidney problems that could appear later. Lives are saved, but the cost can be to great that other patients will not donate organs because it will negatively impact them later.
The course also brought attention to other beliefs of religion that may be over looked. Patients can make decisions based off what their church says should be done. Other’s view medical changes to be the work of God and the other side can view it as going against God by having medical treatment. People have the right to their own beliefs and have the right to ask or deny treatment based off that. More importantly, this class gave me an insight to see both sides of any issue that appear and evaluate it.