Sclerosis Ethical Issues

Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is one of humankind’s most mysterious diseases. No one knows the exact cause and there is no exact treatment. Still multiple sclerosis has the ability to affect nearly 3 million people worldwide and at least 500,000 people in the United States (Boroch). This disease tends to be more common in individuals of northern European descent and women are more than twice as likely to develop multiple sclerosis as men. Of those 3 million people, most of them are between the ages of 20 and 50 years old (Dangond). Even though multiple sclerosis is a mystery disease, scientists are working to determine the exact cause and treatment.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic disease that affects the Central Nervous System (CNS) through cellular immune response and the demyelination of CNS white matter (McCance et al., 2014, pp. 630–633). The initial causes of MS are unknown however, it is believed that it could possibly be due to an immune response to an initiating infection or an autoimmune response to CNS antigens on the myelin itself (Brück, 2005) (Miljković and Spasojević, 2013). MS is a result of the degradation of the myelin sheath surrounding neurons and therefore disrupts the transmission of action potentials along these cells. MS can display itself in the form of symptoms ranging from muscle weakness to trouble with sensation and coordination (NHS, 2016). The degradation of myelin leads the body to attempt to remyelinate the neurons, a process that in turn leads to the thickening of the cell by glial cells and this causes lesions to form (Chari, 2007). It is this thickening (sclerae) from which the disease gets its name. Sufferers of MS can either have a relapsing type of MS, in which there are episodes that lead to the worsening of symptoms for a period of time, or a progressive type of MS where symptoms gradually progress and worsen (McCance et al., 2014, pp. 630–633).

The central nervous system (CNS) comprises grey matter, which contains neuron cell bodies and white matter, which contains the nerve axons. Most of the nerve axons are concentrically wrapped around by lipid-rich biological membrane, known as the myelin sheath. In the CNS, myelin is produced by oligodendrocyte. a type of glial cell. (Pfeiffer et al., 1993). These electrical insulating, multilamellar membranes significantly increase the electrical resistance, in which to prevent leakage of electrical currents from the axons, as well as decrease electrical capacitance to reduce the ability of the axons to store electrical energy (Shivane &

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, progressive neurological disease affecting all aspects of life: physical, cognitive, emotional, and social (Abma). It is known as an autoimmune disease, Where the body’s immune system turns against the body and destroys the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. This damage to the nerve cells causes many problems for the patient including weakness, muscle stiffness, poor coordination and balance, tingling, numbness, tremors, blurred vision, slurred speech, and memory and concentration problems (Bren)

As a senior this year, I am looking forward to several endeavors, such as leading my team in my last year of cheerleading, participating in a Senior Engineering Design Project, and continuing to volunteer with VSVS, a program that allows Vanderbilt student to teach science lessons in local elementary schools. Moreover, I spent this past summer working on my research at the Vanderbilt Institute of Imaging Science and will continue my projects throughout the school year. I am excitingly close to finishing the project I have been working on that involves a magnetic resonance imaging study of patients with multiple sclerosis. We have employed quantitative magnetization transfer techniques at 7-Tesla field strength to obtain indices reflective

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease of the central nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. Both have nerve fibers that are wrapped in a myelin sheath. In MS, the myelin sheath becomes inflamed and gradually is destroyed. With the destruction of the myelin sheath comes an array of symptoms that may include numbness or tingling, balance problems, weakness, muscle spasms, and blurred vision.

In the world of neurology, there are a vast amount of neurological disorders, conditions, and diseases. One severe disease is known as Multiple Sclerosis. In this research essay, I will be discussing what multiple sclerosis is, symptoms, causes, personal experience, and treatments.

The father of neurology, Dr. Charcot, examined the brain of a deceased patient because the patient had a tremor unlike anything he has treated before. He noticed plaques or abnormal clusters of chemically sticky proteins that build up amongst nerve cells. He also described the patient’s symptoms and changes in the brain that accompanied the plaques; this was the first description of multiple sclerosis. In England in 1873 and in the United States in 1878, multiple sclerosis was first recognized based off of Dr. Charcot’s description of the disease. In 1916, Dr. James Dawson performed autopsies on brains of patients who died with multiple

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder where the myelin sheath within the Central Nervous System is attacked (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2017). The myelin sheath protects the axon of the nerve cell. When the myelin sheath is intact, the axon is able to carry impulses away from the neuron’s cell body, and the message carried is clear. With Multiple Sclerosis, the myelin sheath becomes scarred, hence the word “sclerosis”, and distorts the nerve impulses traveling over the CNS (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2017). This may cause the message to be changed or stopped altogether.

Imagine a disease that has the potential to disrupt and ultimately destroy the human nervous system by attacking the myelin sheath. This is not a rare disease. In fact, it affects over 350,000 people in the United States alone (Nordqvist). The ratio of women to men that contract the disease is 2 to 1 and it is a leading cause of disability in young adults (Olek). This disease is not only widespread, it is chronic and has no known cause or cure. If disease activity is suspected an MRI is performed and, if lesions on the central nervous system are identified Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the likely diagnosis. Despite the devastation that may follow such news, there is hope for those diagnosed

The first written report of multiple sclerosis was in 1400, when Lydwina of Schieden was diagnosed. The disease was described clinically by Jean-Martin Charcot in 1877. He recognized that the disease affected the nervous system and tried remedies, with no success. In 1890, suppression of sweat was thought to be the cause of multiple sclerosis, treatment was electrical stimulation and bed rest. By 1910, multiple sclerosis was thought to be caused by toxins in blood. In the 1930s, poor circulation was yet again believed to cause multiple sclerosis. In the 1950s through the 1970s, multiple sclerosis was thought to be causes by allergies. It wasn’t until the 1980s when multiple sclerosis was finally understood and treatment was developed (Campanella and Zawada).

Symptom management of Dementia at end of life is often sub-optimal, although symptom burdens may be similar to cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or advanced heart failure. Dementia may exist with several co-morbid conditions, and death may occur from various causes (Jones et al., 2015). Ethical issues arise in the work place a lot and they are something that can be hard to navigate your way around. Knowing what the right thing to do can be a hard decision to make as a nurse. There are many aspects that go into making an ethical decision when it comes to your patients well being. Ethical issues are not black and white, they are complex, and the right decision might not be the easiest one to make. Dementia is

Nonetheless, the number of people with dementia, has continued to expand at an exceptional rate. In considering this difficult ethical issue, it is worth remembering words stated by Brody "We seem to have forgotten the difference between people who die because they stop taking in food and water, and people who stop taking in food and water because of the natural dying process"(Brody, 2011). Healthcare professionals are essential when implementing and influencing nutritional care. It is important to note however that, as a society it is necessary to acquire the knowledge and understanding of dementia. The more we educate ourselves in how the brain process can impact the way we eat and drink, the better the practice and understanding we can

The fact that symptoms flare-up and subside for many people with multiple sclerosis (MS), combined with the wide variety and unpredictability of symptoms, has made MS a difficult disease to recognize, define, and treat – right from the start. Since the late 1300s, individuals with a progressive illness suggestive of MS have been observed. It wasn’t until 1868 that the famous neurologist, Jean-Martin Charcot, lectured on the features of MS and gave it a name. In a lecture in 1868, Charcot expanded on the work of his predecessors to describe the distinct characteristics of the condition he named sclerose en plaques. He described MS lesions in detail and reported on inflammation and the scarring of the nerves at these sites. He attributed symptoms

Case Study: A thirty six year old male has developed severe muscle weakness throughout the body. The condition began fifteen months ago with a left foot drop and within a year, he described difficulty with speech and swallowing, muscle twitching and cramping, and muscular atrophy throughout the upper and lower limbs. Within the last two months, his breathing has become more difficult, and there has been a noticeable difference in his voice. Prior to the fifteen months, he presented little to no symptoms. The patient, a medical doctor, has a wife and two young children.