Question

A female patient, age 15, is brought to the hospital emergency room with complaints of recurrent kidney infections. The patient has stated that she has regular menstrual periods. The ER physician writes orders for a renal sonogram.

After taking the appropriate images of the kidneys, the sonographer begins taking a sonogram of the patient’s urinary bladder. The sonographer notes that the female is about 20 weeks pregnant and that there is no active fetal heartbeat.

The patient’s mother is in the waiting room and wants to come in and watch the sonogram.

In 15 - 20 sentences differentiate between the legal and ethical points of this case. Explain on the legal and ethical points.

Answer 1

In this case patients is adolescent or teenager,the ethical arguments supporting confidential care for adolescents are strong and focus on repect for emerging autonomy,recognition of evolving decision making capacity.Medical decision making capacity includes the ability to understand the issue,weigh risks and benefits,appreciate the consequences of choices and make a voluntary choice.

But in this case as the female patients is suffering from kidney infections and the fetal has no active heart beat,the main ethical issue to be followed is a consent from her mother.The doctor should explain the entire situation and her condition and then should undergo further process and medication.Consent form should be accepted by the patient if at all they undergo an abortion.