Question

sing the following case study, role-play with your partner how you would demonstrate sensitivity to patient rights You are employed as a clinical medical assistant in a large multiphysician cardiology practice. A patient just told you that she is no longer going to take her cardiac medication as prescribed by the physician. Does the patient have the right to refuse treatment? Role-play how you will inform the physician of the patient's decision.

Answer 1

RIGHT TO REFUSE THE TREATMENT.

Every patient has the right to accept the treatment as well as to refuse the treatment, the decision was taken by the patient sometimes creates the topic of debate for the physicians when it comes to dealing with the psychiatric patient and the older client.

some patients who are admitted in the hospital involuntarily also has the right to know what is happening to their body and what medications are given, a patient with the sound mind has the full right to accept or refuse the treatment and her decisions should be respected, as a health care provider it is the responsibility to explain the risk associated with the discontinuing treatment.

Right to refuse the medication and the treatment is the equal right of every individual under the law and it is the basic law under the right to privacy is maintained.

an adult who is competent has the right to refuse the treatment and the medication given by the hospital, to avoid any ethical and the legal issues a nurse who is taking care of the client, must note down the statement of the patient.

if a patient is refusing the medication the first responsibility of the primary health care provider ( nurse ) is to make the patient clear regarding the consequences of not taking the medication, in the above condition patient is taking a cardiac drug that is very important to take regularly otherwise it may cause inevitable complications such as cardiac arrest, angina, etc,

Also if the patient doesn't understand the language arrange a translator to tell her regarding the benefits and uses of the treatment and the complications related to discontinuing the medication.

if she is unable to agree with you tell your doctor that the patient is not ready to continue the medication even after explaining the consequences to the patient.

DOCTORS ROLE

FIRST OF ALL, THE STATEMENT BY THE DOCTOR AND THE PATIENT SHOULD BE RECORDED TO AVOID ANY ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES IN THE FUTURE, THE MEDICAL RECORD CONTAINS THE INFORMATION THAT IS GIVEN BY THE PRIMARY CARE PROVIDE IS THAT THE PATIENT IS REFUSING THE MEDICATION

DOCTORS STATEMENT SHOULD INCLUDE

1. explaining patient regarding the diagnosis and the treatment is necessary, and also it is important to stick with the treatment.

2. explain all the possible benefits, risks, side effects and the consequences of the treatment.

3. explain client regarding the threat, risk and the complications when the medication is not taken properly.

4. allow the client to ventilate her thoughts on why she wants to discontinue the treatment, is it the lack of insurance or she wants alternate medications for her condition.

5. signing the informed consent also plays an important role and the patient whose mental status is not stable a jury would perform the neurologic and the psychological assessments if the patient is found mentally unstable, special consideration will be given to the patient for social evaluation.

6. clear documentation in the form of the story should be written and also the statement by the client should be written in her own language and also the information provided by the doctor should be documented as he communicates with the patient. if a doctor is providing any other information that also should be noted down in the notes and also if the patient is asking any question and also encouraging her to ask more questions regarding the medication should be clearly written.

7. depending upon the hospital policies and the protocol if a patient is refusing the medication tell her to sign the informed refusal consent and also document it too.

After explaining all the consequences, if the patient still wants to discontinue the medication her decision should be respected and no pressure or forceful action should be done by any health care provider to take the medication.

involuntarily medication is only given the emergency department and also to the child and the patient who cannot make a decision on his own, in that case, their guardian will make the choice.

ADMINISTERING MEDICATION WITHOUT PATIENT'S WILL CAN PUT THE STAFF AND THE DOCTORS and the primary health care providers INTO THE UNETHICAL AND THE LEGAL ISSUES.