Question

*Case Study Question

Jane is pregnant, 23 years old, unmarried, and the mother of four children by three different fathers. She has been an insulin-dependent diabetic since the age of 12 but had no complica- tions from the disease during the earlier pregnancies.
During clinic visits, Jane has been advised of the risks of uncontrolled diabetes for her un- born child (increased risk for congenital deformities, premature birth, and being stillborn) but does not seem to take the advice seriously. When questioned about how she is monitoring her blood sugar, she complains that she is too poor to buy the test strips, and even when she has the supplies, she often forgets.
At 15 weeks’ gestation, following an office visit, she is admitted to the hospital as an inpa- tient to treat her diabetes. The next day, against her physician’s advice, she checks herself out of the hospital even though the diabetes has not been fully brought under control. Once at home, she again fails to monitor her blood sugar adequately.
At 22 weeks’ gestation, Jane is again admitted to the hospital as her diabetes is again out of control. The next morning, she again announces that she wishes to check out. The physician and unit staff advise her that her actions are clearly not in the best interest of the fetus. Jane responds negatively to the advice and becomes belligerent, demanding to be released.
1.   In this case, who has rights? Whose rights should prevail? Jane’s? The fetus’s? The hospital staff’s?
2.   Should the physician attempt to get a court order to keep Jane hospitalized?

Answer 1

1.As to speak about patient rights , a patient has all the rights to leave or disagree or complain if they are not satisfied but not in jane's case as she has to deal with her diabetes and most important is the foetus health.It is the responsibility of the hospital staff to keep her under continous observation and should take all the precautions so that the foetus is not affected with diabetes.Even if she responds negatively ,counselling should be given to her inorder to make her calm and should explain her the situation of what can happen is she doesnt take proper care.

2.There is no need for any court order to keep her hospitalised,there are many other ways to help her in taking proper medication and treatment.