Question

In health care, medicine and medical research there often occurs a clash in values. These conflicts exist amongst the providers and between the providers and the recipients of care. Do some reasearch and provide an example of one such conflict.

1. Describe the situation or case

2. state what the conflict is

Answer 1

In health care, there often occurs a clash in values. These conflicts exist between providers and recipients of care. One example of this would be a case involving Mr. Smith and his surgeon Dr. A.

1) Mr. Smith chose to have an elective surgical procedure performed by his doctor. He chose to have a vasectomy performed. Prior to his surgery, he is asked to sign a surgical consent form. The form describes the surgical procedure, how the procedure is performed, and the possible complications of the surgery itself. Listed in the release, are the possibilities of death from anesthetic reaction, the possibility that in future the surgery may reverse itself, and finally the possibility of generalized unexplained pain for years to come. Understandably, Mr. Smith is hesitant to sign the form, and voices his concerns to the Doctor. He is assured that this is a formality. That while there is a possibility of complications, that they are rare. He is told that this doctor has performed thousands of this type of procedure, and that he rarely hears of any post op complications. Mr. Smith feels reassured, and agrees to sign the release.

The surgery is performed, and Mr. Smith is discharged. He is given post op instructions that he follows, but two days later calls his doctor due to a persistent fever and pain in his lower abdomen. The doctor prescribes antibiotics, and has Mr. Smith follow up in a week. A week later the fever has abated, but the abdominal pain has not. The doctor assures him that this is normal and that with time this pain should abate.

Six months later Mr. Smith is still complaining of persistent abdominal pain that is actually extensive enough to hinder his everyday lifestyle. Over the next six months, Mr. Smith has consulted his physicians numerous times. Numerous antibiotics and other medications later, he confronts his doctor with his concerns that this pain may be a permanent complication of the surgery. The doctor agrees that this is likely, and reminds Mr. Smith that this was always a possibility. Dr. A. reminds him that he signed a surgical release form for the surgery, and that this form made him aware of the possible complications of the surgery.

Mr. Smith feels somewhat betrayed and with a loss of trust in his doctor, requests a second opinion. An associate of Dr. A. is consulted and agrees that Mr. Smith has a post op complication. When asked if this is a possible complication due to some mistake performed by Dr. A, the colleague skirts the issue. Mr. Smith feels that he can no longer trust his doctor, and seeks an opinion outside of this practice. When he consults Dr. D, he is told that he is suffering a complication of the surgery itself. That while not a common occurrence that it can happen if the surgeon makes a miscalculated incision. He tells Mr. Smith that this condition is permanent, that medication can with time relieve most of his pain, but that this is no cure.

Mr. Smith is grateful to finally have a diagnosis, but is distraught that this condition will be a chronic problem. He feels that he was misled when he questioned the surgeon on the surgical consent form. He felt that he was not properly prepared for the possibility of complications. He believes that important information may have been withheld or downplayed in fear that he would choose not to have the surgery. As a result of this he was misled into prematurely signing the surgical release form, and in effect enabled them to put him at risk of being harmed.( Cited: Decision scenarios)

2) The conflict was that Mr. Smith wasn't recovered even after the surgery and lost the faith in his first doctor, Dr. A . Then he consulted Dr. D , who gave him an assurance of geeting fine soon and also cleared with the statement that he'll be having this problem lifetime because it does'nt have a complete cure. Thus, the conflict ended when Mr. Smith got the assurity and clear statement.