Expository Essay on Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare

Introduction

Healthcare professionals and patients encounter legal and ethical issues while they are performing their duties. These issues may concern best practices, treatment, and management. Ethical issues in healthcare require immediate responses, such as making informed decisions for patients when they are unable to decide. Ethical and legal issues in health care determine what is wrong and write. The most common ethical and legal issues in healthcare as identified in the case study include patient confidentiality and privacy, the transmission of diseases, end-of-life issues, informed consent, and the right to receive proper medical care. According to the case study, the patient's name is Patti with the history of chronic pulmonary obstruction, asthma, hepatitis C, and polysubstance abuse (Tiegreen, 2017). Healthcare professionals obtained informed consent from Patti's husband because the patient was unable to speak.

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Patti is a 52-year older woman who was suffering from cardiac arrest. The patient's medical history showed that she had previously had asthma, hepatitis C, chronic pulmonary disease, and polysubstance abuse. The patient was weak, and she could not speak. Medical officers consulted her husband, who was not emotional and could not give any credible information. The healthcare tried to treat the patient, although they knew she was at the verge of dying. They treated her because all the patients deserve proper medication irrespective of their conditions. The patient's medical history helps healthcare providers to prevent transmission of diseases. From the patient's perspective, the patient's information is confidential, and it will only be shared after the patient has given informed consent.

Although the patient was in ICU, doctors had hope that Patti will recover, and they kept on treating her. Patti has the right to receive medical care without discrimination of his condition. Also, the doctors kept Patti's information private and confidential. They did not share the patient's information to any other person apart from her husband. The healthcare providers at the hospital took into consideration the ethical and legal issue in healthcare. They obtained informed consent from the patient's husband, provided medical care to the patient regardless of her condition, and kept the patient's information private.

Risk management involves the identification, monitoring and management of any malpractices that can put the healthcare professionals and patients at risk. Managing these risks protects the healthcare professional and the patient. Managing any potential risks will ensure that the changes in ethical or legal lapse are minimized. However, the risks associated with ethical and legal issues in healthcare are paramount; it is the responsibilities of the healthcare professionals to protect and treat patients with dignity and professionalism.

Conclusion

Ethical issues are essential because if the healthcare provider or patients ignore them, it may lead to a legal problem in a healthcare facility. According to my case study, doctors took into consideration the ethical issues while handling Patti. The essential thing in this case study is to demonstrate high levels of professionalism. If by in chance, I find myself in the situation like the one in the case study, I could obtain informed consent from a close family member before taking care of the patient's needs. It is also crucial to keep the patient's information confidential. Besides, Patti needed proper medication irrespective of her condition. The patient's health is always a priority; therefore, it is crucial to address their medical needs with dignity.

References

Tiegreen, T. (2017, June 30). A Case of Clinical Ethics Consultation: Helping the Care Team Help Patient Patti. Retrieved from https://www.practicalbioethics.org/case-studies-helping-the-care-team-help-patient-patti.html.