Question

In certain cases it's legally and ethically appropriate for health professionals to proceed with a treatment without consent or proceed with a treatment that is against the patient decision give 2 examples where this can be applied?

what is capacity and when does an adult lack capacity?

there is a range of purposes for which healthcare data can be used for purposes other than providing healthcare, mention 4 of these purposes?

phc 216 Ethic

Answer 1

• Two Examples

1) In case of an emergency, a doctor must act quickly to save the life. If stopping life-saving efforts and describing the risks of a procedure will cause a delay that puts the patient’s life further at risk, then the healt professional does not need to obtain consent.

2) If the patient is mentally incapacitated or emotionally fragile. If the healt professional knows that the patient is so distressed that he or she will refuse necessary treatment, the doctor may not be required to get the patient’s consent.

CAPACITY

Capacity means the ability to understand information to make a decision, and communicate any decision made.

A person is said to lack capacity if their mind is impaired or disturbed in some way, that means they're unable to make a decision at that time.

1) Mental health conditions- Bipolar disorder or Schizophrenia

2) Dementia

3) Intoxication caused by drugs

4) Severe learning disabilities