Pediatric Ethical Issues

The ethical issues involved in this topic include age limits, medical ethics, informed consent, and autonomy. It is unethical and immoral to allow adolescents to make their own medical decisions, because the judgment and capacity to make coherent decisions is unstable. However, adolescents should be involved and have a voice in the process of decision making, nonetheless I believe that the concluding medical decision should be made by the guardian and the doctor. An adolescent is between the ages of thirteen and nineteen. Society permits the legal determination of decision making for health care at the age of eighteen years. It is very important to consider developmental issues which will influence both reasoning and information processing, the brain not being fully developed causes a sense of a lost identity, and low self esteem challenges adolescents to develop a logical decision. An adolescent brain is not yet fully developed, the lack of grey matter and an

First and foremost, before the signing, medical personnel will have a chance to review and explain to the parents about the process: what tests to be performed, where to obtain the results, what happened to the blood after the test etc. Second of all, in the same time parents may be informed that they have a choice and may refuse the

Myrtle Aydelotte once said, “Nursing encompasses an art, a humanistic orientation, a feeling for the value of the individual, and an intuitive sense of ethics, and the appropriateness of action taken.” In Pediatrics, nurses are faced with many ethical challenges that reflect back to their own personal beliefs and values, in congruent with being able to provide the best quality care both ethically and legally for children without autonomy. When providing care for these patients who do not have autonomy, the nurse’s priority is to advocate and support the child and the families’ needs on a daily basis. The purpose of this ethical paper is to project the dilemma and ethical issues that nurses often encounter involving children, including those who are unable to make decisions for themselves.

The relationship between immigrants and health care is both legal and ethical. This article explores the realities of the United States legal and moral obligations to illegal and legal immigrants in regards to healthcare access. The article examines the Canadian 2011 Federal Court of Appeal's decision in Toussaint- v. Attorney General in which Toussaint was denied medical coverage and it was determined that aliens where unable to receive health benefits. The United States does not provide medical services to illegal immigrants except in certain emergency circumstances to pregnant women and children, in which Medicaid services are provided. The author explores the idea that emergency department expenditures were more than three times as

The discussion on Patrick Dismuke's condition concentrated on his incapability to improve. After reviewing his symptoms and considering possible scenarios resulting from certain kinds of treatment, such as the tube that delivered nutrients into his veins that "broke the barrier between blood and air" and became "a bacteria-laden Trojan horse, opening the door to infection", we attempted to come to a consensus on what would constitute a quality life, as deliberated among the committee. We took into consideration that after every kind of surgery, his status would be temporarily improved but ultimately decline in keeping with his body's proclivity. We acknowledged that the idea of a successful stomach transplant was remote since, as

Although health care in the United States is considered to be one of the top ranking medical services, it is however becoming inadequate due to one fatal flaw: money (Vaughn 692). It is well known that a person admitted to the hospital, also admits their wallet, as the costs of certain procedures can be quite draining. However this is reality. There is no such thing as a health care system which “can provide maximum healthcare for everyone” (Vaughn 681). Therefore doctors must decide what is ethical and what is immoral when “costs restrict how much health care can be delivered” (Vaughn 681), to certain patients. This is the question in which Dr. Oz must ask himself as he is informed that his patient cannot afford a particular treatment; a

When performing research on children we need a basic understanding of how the child communicates and thinks, this can relate to a number of things such as memory, conceptual development and language development (Mutch, 2013). Research with children needs to be sensitive to their stages of development, ethically justified, allow modifications of research methods, environment, and tools (Mutch, 2013). Educational researchers have a duty in relation to the principle of harmful effects and unintended consequences, to ensure unnecessary harm and anxiety is avoided (New Zealand Association for Research in Education, 2010). The principle of confidentiality needs to be obliged, this is an important aspect in regards to educational research, any confidential information leaked may result in breach of the law (New Zealand Association for Research in Education, 2010). When doing educational research, research participants need to be advised of the principle informed consent, this involves informing parents of the purpose, conduct, what is involved and allowing parents to withdraw their child at any time (Mutch, 2013).

So, parents` consent was acquired. The trial was very ignorant as they took free care of the kids who got severe malaria episodes. My only question is that since the subjects are very small kids, it is impossible to know whether they would like to be a part of the trial or not. However, this problem occurs in ever study involving kids.

When it comes to pediatric radiography every radiologic technologist and radiologist takes precaution when it comes to CT. Children are more sensitive to radiation than adults, have a longer life expectancy than adults resulting

The final ethical issue that may be faced is clinical issues. Clinical issues happen as a result of the caregiving relationship that forms between practitioners and clients (Kunstler, 2010). Clinical issues form from outgrowths of foundational and systemic issues. Kunstler (2010) says that “clinical ethical issues include the rights of clients, decision making for those who are incapacitated, privacy and confidentiality, and boundary issues” (p.15). An example of this issue is when a client with a chronic illness is no longer able to make conscientious decisions. It is the practitioners job to follow the patients caregivers wishes, even if your opinion differs. As a professional in healthcare the ‘‘person before label concept” is important

First and foremost, individuals are responsible for the way in which they chose to live their lives. It is imperative to take care of your body as you only get one in a lifetime. Healthy eating habits are a choice for most people around the world. In some circumstances where people are starving and have no choice is the exception to the rule. Obese individuals, when told by a medical professional should in fact change their habits and lead a healthier lifestyle. Individual responsibility should be a top priority as it relates to personal health. The lack of attention-to-detail may result in a lifetime of hardships and pain do to crippling diseases.

There are some troublesome ethical issues when studying children. Should I think a child is an immediate danger either by their own doing or someone else's, I will contact their primary caretaker and the local police department. Due to the long term nature of the study, it is probable that a relationship between the researcher and subject could develop. The relationship will be allowable there is no need to give a “cold shoulder” to children they should feel safe and welcome when interacting with the researcher. If a problem occurs that doesn’t require immediate action, I will ask my supervisor for advice. The children will be asked to provide accounts of their experiences with domestic violence in their interview or questionnaire. The memories

Through this ethics course I can honestly say that I still have the same view point of the ethical

In studies that involve more than minimal risk, obtain consent from both parents, if possible. (See “Studies with *Children*—More than Minimal Risk.") For minimal risk studies, consent from one parent is sufficient. Consent from one parent is also permitted if a parent is deceased, unknown, incompetent, or not reasonably available, or if one parent has legal responsibility for the care and custody of the child. In the absence of a parent or parents able to give consent, consent may be given by a child’s legal guardian or legal representative.

Smith, a 5 years old boy, experienced a decrease in oxygen saturation and abdominal distension. Abdominal radiograph indicated free air in abdomen. When obtaining the consent for surgery, the parents refuse the use of blood or blood products, because both of them were Jehovah’s Witness. However, it is impossible for the baby to survive without blood transfusion during the surgery (Meadow et al., 2010). There are no absolute rights or wrongs to this case, which is based on a synthesis of other actual clinical scenarios. The aim of this essay is to explore the dilemmas between the ethical issues, the law and the wishes of the family and the effect of it.