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Background Info: The following case study refers to the Respect for Autonomy principle which essentially means "self-rule," and it is a patient's most basic right. As such, it is a health care worker's responsibility to respect the autonomy of her patients. However, at times this can be difficult because it can conflict with the paternalistic attitude of many health care professionals. The following case addresses patient autonomy. It involves the rights of an individual to decide her own fate, even against her physicians' judgments.

Background Info: The following case study refers to the Respect for Autonomy principle which essentially means "self-rule," and it is a patient's most basic right. As such, it is a health care worker's responsibility to respect the autonomy of her patients. However, at times this can be difficult because it can conflict with the paternalistic attitude of many health care professionals. The following case addresses patient autonomy. It involves the rights of an individual to decide her own fate, even against her physicians' judgments.

Phlebotomy Essentials
Phlebotomy Essentials
6th Edition
ISBN:9781451194524
Author:Ruth McCall, Cathee M. Tankersley MT(ASCP)
Publisher:Ruth McCall, Cathee M. Tankersley MT(ASCP)
Chapter1: Phlebotomy: Past And Present And The Healthcare Setting
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1SRQ
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Background Info: The following case study refers to the Respect for Autonomy principle which essentially means "self-rule," and it is a patient's most basic right. As such, it is a health care worker's responsibility to respect the autonomy of her patients. However, at times this can be difficult because it can conflict with the paternalistic attitude of many health care professionals. The following case addresses patient autonomy. It involves the rights of an individual to decide her own fate, even against her physicians' judgments. Case: A woman enters the emergency room with stomach pain. She undergoes a CT scan and is diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a weakening in the wall of the aorta which causes it to stretch and bulge (this is very similar to what led to John Ritter's death). The physicians inform her that the only way to fix the problem is surgically, and that the chances of survival are about 50/50. They also inform her that time is of the essence, and that should the aneurysm burst, she would be dead in a few short minutes. The woman is an erotic dancer; she worries that the surgery will leave a scar that will negatively affect her work; therefore, she refuses any surgical treatment. Even after much pressuring from the physicians, she adamantly refuses surgery. Feeling that the woman is not in her correct state of mind and knowing that time is of the essence, the surgeons decide to perform the procedure without consent. They anesthetize her and surgically repair the aneurysm. She survives, and sues the hospital for millions of dollars. Please reflect on the following questions in 5-7 sentences ● Do you believe that the physician's actions can be justified in any way? Is there anything else that they could have done? Is it ever right to take away someone's autonomy? (Would a court order make the physicians' decisions ethical?) What would you do if you were one of the health care workers?
Transcribed Image Text:Background Info: The following case study refers to the Respect for Autonomy principle which essentially means "self-rule," and it is a patient's most basic right. As such, it is a health care worker's responsibility to respect the autonomy of her patients. However, at times this can be difficult because it can conflict with the paternalistic attitude of many health care professionals. The following case addresses patient autonomy. It involves the rights of an individual to decide her own fate, even against her physicians' judgments. Case: A woman enters the emergency room with stomach pain. She undergoes a CT scan and is diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a weakening in the wall of the aorta which causes it to stretch and bulge (this is very similar to what led to John Ritter's death). The physicians inform her that the only way to fix the problem is surgically, and that the chances of survival are about 50/50. They also inform her that time is of the essence, and that should the aneurysm burst, she would be dead in a few short minutes. The woman is an erotic dancer; she worries that the surgery will leave a scar that will negatively affect her work; therefore, she refuses any surgical treatment. Even after much pressuring from the physicians, she adamantly refuses surgery. Feeling that the woman is not in her correct state of mind and knowing that time is of the essence, the surgeons decide to perform the procedure without consent. They anesthetize her and surgically repair the aneurysm. She survives, and sues the hospital for millions of dollars. Please reflect on the following questions in 5-7 sentences ● Do you believe that the physician's actions can be justified in any way? Is there anything else that they could have done? Is it ever right to take away someone's autonomy? (Would a court order make the physicians' decisions ethical?) What would you do if you were one of the health care workers?
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