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The concept of paternalism involves the notion that one person, generally a person in a position of authority, has the right to intervene and override the autonomy of another person. In terms of historical context, medicine is one area in which paternalism has occurred frequently. Throughout the ages, physicians and doctors have been placed in a position of authority in which they acted upon the bodies of their patients without those patients’ full knowledge or understanding. However, there has been a distinct shift in modern times regarding paternalism. With the publication of The Silent World of Doctor and Patient, Jay Katz advocated for a new attention to be given to the autonomous control of the patient. Katz noted that historically speaking,

Nurse Practitioner Veneta Masson, author of “Why I don’t Get Mammograms” argues the topic of how routine mammograms don’t save lives. Masson being a health care professional has been well educated on maintaining optimum health and preventing disease. Though she may have the knowledge and awareness, she however uses faulty generalizations as to why she does not receive annual mammogram

Finally, the third alternative to the paternalistic model is the contractual model. This model is similar to paternalism, in that it questions the assumptions of equality, however it differs in that there is a “contract” between both parties, leaving each with their own dignity and moral authority. What is crucial about this model is that it does not neglect the fact that there is an obvious difference in the degree of knowledge between the patient and the physician. Instead of focusing on that discrepancy, the model concentrates on the agreement between the two parties to exchange goods and services and the enforcement of that by government sanctions. In other words, this model compromises between partnership and the reality of medical care, and according to Veatch, is the only realistic way to share all responsibility, while protecting various parties in health care. For example, both parties are freely entering this contract, and therefore are both given the right to leave it, given proper notice. However, while partaking in the contract, there are duties and obligations of each, which may neglect virtues of benevolence, care and compassion, which we do see stressed in other models.

Nature and scope of the project: Despite the advances in medical technology, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and is the second cause of mortality in African-American and Caucasian women in the United States. Mammography has shown to be one of the best method to reduce late detection of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends monthly self-breast examination (SBE), clinical breast examination every three years and mammography starting at age of 40. Despite the recommendations, there is a disparity among different racial groups. The breast cancer screening rates are higher in certain subgroups, including low-income African-Americans and Hispanic

The new framework is such that physicians now must share a certain level of responsibility with the government to help ensure that the health care system functions well. In the past, physicians were responsible for only their individual patients and

Historically, physicians are more respected by the public’s dependence on their expertise more so than their experience with social and policy issues. Take for instance; physicians are already advocates for their patients’ health. Patients benefit from not only a physician’s professional medical advice, but also, when it comes to trying to get insurance approvals, often times the physician will be of a support. Overall, physicians play a huge role in patients’ healthcare for not only servicing them, but educating them as well. There is a constant communication with the patient-physician relationship. But even with a strong patient-physician relationship it is the social determinants

According to Susan G. Komen, the absence of health insurance is the main reason for a lack of screening for breast cancer. Women who don't have health insurance are less likely to get screened for breast cancer. Many Asian Indian women lack health insurance and more than one in five Asian Indian women are uninsured. In 2013, 37.6 percent of Asian Indian women over the age of 40 didn't have access to routine mammograms. This lack of health care and routine mammograms leads to higher rates of breast cancer in Indian American women. Although a lack of health insurance is the main reason for the low rate of mammogram screenings in the U.S. other factors can also play a role. These other factors include: low income, lack of a usual health care provider,

Throughout the next fifty years the once paternalistic attitudes of healthcare professionals began to change, not only because of the influences of research

Clinical breast exam and mammography are the main means available for detecting asymptomatic breast cancer, but many racial and ethnic any minority women are not getting screened (Gonzalez, Miranda & Tarraf, 2011). They are many factors which contributes to the lack of breast cancer screening in the United States; however this research by (Gonzalez, Miranda & Tarraf, 2011) was done to determine ethnicity/race plays a role in breast cancer screening (BCS) in the United States (US) in women forty years or older; and if there is any health disparities among the women in the United States (US), and if there is, which racial/ethnic groups are

A potential alternative for the rise in out-of-pocket expenses is due to many individuals being female. The underlying theory for this rival hypothesis is that women are more likely to experience various medical procedures as routine check-ups throughout their lifetime compared to male counterparts such as for pregnancies or mammograms. This may be true with increasing life spans and with the average woman’s lifespan slightly more than men.

Subsequently, paternalism is ethically controversial in medicine because it can potentially violate patient autonomy. Patient autonomy is important to respect and violation of this can have severe consequences. A patient that is mentally competent has the opportunity to make their own medical decisions. Paternalism is also ethically controversial because of the ethic of beneficence. This also leads to duty-ethics because physicians have the duty to use their best judgement is assisting their patients.

The “Every Woman Matters” program(EWM), is one of many government funded programs aimed at providing preventive maintenance and screening to populations considered more at risk and less likely to seek care(Backer, et. al. 2005). EWM provided women with a “clinical breast exam, mammography, and paponicolaou smear test at reduced or no cost”, it also provided the providers with assistance and incentives for participation(Backer, et. al. 2005). In the United, poor, uneducated males are the least likely

Cultural flaws that are within the healthcare community have increased and are increasingly showing up. This has been seen as excessive mental attitude, decreased respect for healthcare consumers and their right to participate in choices regarding their care and compliance regarding poor practice. These factors contribute to an image that leads the general public to believe that most doctors place their own interest first before considering the patient’s needs.

Every Woman Matters (EWM) a state-run federally funded program, is designed to remove barriers to preventive breast and cervical cancer screening by raising public awareness of the risk and making screening more financially accessible to low-income women (Backer et al., 2005). Eligible women received a clinical breast examination, mammography, and Papanicolaou smear test at reduced or no cost (Backer et al., 2005). EWM program used the GAPS Model. This practice based intervention study was designed in collaboration with the Nebraska Health and Human Services EWM Program (Backer et al., 2005). In this study, seven primary care practice clinics were enrolled. Participating clinics were advised of the study’s purpose, and during the informed consent process

Access to preventive health care should not be definable as one of life’s luxuries, yet that is what is has come to be for the approximately “50 million Americans” who have no health insurance (Turka & Caplan, 2010). Clogged emergency rooms and “preventable deaths” are just two of the consequences associated with the lack of health insurance that would provide access to preventive care (Turka & Caplan, 2010). We as a nation are depriving our citizens of one of our most basic needs—being healthy.