Question

CASE STUDIES Read the case studies and answer the questions that follow 1. Robert is a patient who has tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Because he wants to protect What should you do with this information? How will you interact with Robert when he comes to his first healthcare workers involved in his care, he informs you of his HIV status when he makes his first appointment? 2. You are employed by a cardiologist who has just returned from a cruise that was sponsored by a major pharmaceuti- cal company. The physician frequently writes prescriptions for the company's cardiovascular drugs although many patients have told you they cannot afford the medication. How should you handle this potential conflict of interest? Ultimately, what can you do to advocate for patients in the practice? You discover a co-worker taking drug samples out of the medication room. She tells you her son has an ear infection and she can't afford the antibiotics ordered for him. How should you manage this situation? What is the ethical response? 3.

Answer 1

1. When Robert tells about his HIV positive status in the first appointment to protect the healthcare workers involved in his care . The healthcare workers should utilise this information while they provide care to the same patient by following the universal precautions , hand washing etc and also should maintain the information confidentially.

2. Many physicians write prescription of a particular pharmaceutical company because they provide the physicians incentives like big big gifts ,offer fantastic lunch ,dinner , gifts in the festival seasons ,new year etc . All these is done by the company to increase their drugs sale and this would be attained by attracting the physician by the use of many businesses tactics . Even if the patients can't afford them , doctors prescribe the same by telling them about its effectiveness . This is a type of additional extra income and it's really unethical and against humanity where patients come with the hope of getting well but when doctors prescribe them non-affordable drugs for the sake of money and gifts ,they don't even hear them ,or look at their financial condition they just keep on prescribing . In such cases we should act as a advocate for the patients and should inform about this unethical practice to the higher administrative officers and help the patient to seek treatment at any good hospital where such practices does not exist .

3. In this case , I will tell my co - worker that it's unethical to take drug samples without taking permission and will guide the co -worker to take permission from the nurse incharge if she wants the medicines for his child and also help her to show her child to the physician in our hospital itself and will request him to prescribe a low cost antibiotics which will be affordable by her and if available in the hospital then give her permission to take it from the hospital supply .