There have been many documented cases of doctors being falsely accused from behaving inappropriately during intimate examinations. It could be argued that a chaperone should be recommended for physical examinations of all parts of the patient’s body. Doctors have extensively been advised to have a chaperone present during any physical intimate examinations to provide protection to the doctor against false allegations. But the frequency of chaperone utilization in health clinics has generally remained low in the United States. For years now there has been a heated debate whether or not chaperones should be present during intimate examinations and every time the argument is rekindled, it ends in a stalemate, and is a topic that tends to stay away from (1.2). However, chaperones should be present during an intimate examination to provide protection to health care professionals against false allegation.
The Medical Board constructs a new supplementary guidance on ‘Maintaining Boundaries’ during an intimate examination. The Medical Board states that ‘Maintaining Boundaries’ acquire doctors to be sensitive to what patients may perceive as ‘intimate’ (6). The Medical Board explains that intimate examinations can refer to an examination that involves female breasts, the genitalia, or the rectum of a patient. According to the Medical Board, there are situations that may cause embarrassment or stress to patients. In some religions, examination by a member of the opposite sex is prohibited and the removal of clothes makes patients feel distressing. Example includes when a patient may need to undress for a skin check; patients who may be uncomfortable to be alone with a member of the opposite sex, or the physical examination of a patient ...
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...sed (International Business Times).
However, both arguments whether or not a chaperone being present during intimate examinations make compelling and relevant points. But we need to protect our health care professionals against false accusation or any kind of misconducts and in order to protect our physicians; chaperones should be present during intimate examinations. Since frequency of chaperones use in health clinics has generally remained low in the United States, we need to generate, a clear national standard of guideline or restriction in the United States to protect our health care professionals. I also strongly recommend our physicians to keep in mind that they are at an increased risk of their actions being misconduct or misinterpreted if they conduct intimate examinations where no chaperone is present because we this is a litigation-conscious society.
According to Terrence F. Ackerman, as of the 1980s the American Medical Association had to include the respect for a person’s autonomy as a principle of medical ethics (Ackerman 14, 1982). This includes having the physician provide all the medical information to the patient even if the information could cause negative implication onto the patient. The physician is also expected to withhold all information of the patient from 3rd parties (Ackerman 14, 1982). Although it is seen as standard in today’s world, in
Ohio Dep’t of Rehabilitation & Correction are the poor-quality patient care that Tomcik received and Tomcik’s health being at risk. Once engaged in a doctor-patient relationship, physicians are obligated to provide the best possible care for the patient by utilizing their skills and knowledge as expected from a competent physician under the same or similar conditions (“What Is a Doctor’s Duty of Care?” n.d.). However, in Tomcik’s situation, Dr. Evans did not deliver high-quality care, for he administered a perfunctory breast examination and thus did not follow standard protocols. There is evidence of indifference conveyed by Dr. Evans, and the lack of proper care towards Tomcik is an issue that can be scrutinized and judged appropriately. Additionally, Tomcik’s health was at risk due to the failure of a proper physical evaluation and the incredibly long delay in diagnosis and treatment. The negligence from Dr. Evans, along with the lack of medical attention sought out by Tomcik after she had first discovered the lump in her breast, may contribute to Tomcik’s life being in danger as well as the emotional anguish she may have felt during that time period. Overall, the incident of Tomcik’s expectations from the original physician and other employees at the institution not being met is an ethical issue that should be dealt with
In association to this, those medical physicians granted the responsibility to act upon these potential laws will have to regain the trust between themselves and the patient and also the patient’s family.
The genital examination can be uncomfortable for both the patient as well as for the healthcare professional. Therefore, for us as clinicians, it is crucial first to examine our personal biases as well as personal beliefs that make us feel unease before performing a genital exam. Being aware of our body language, is essential, as the patient could feel or sense of being judge, especially special populations such as those affected by obesity, mental, physical disability. Furthermore, it is crucial that as advanced clinicians understand that for most patients this experience may be a significant source of discomfort and anxiety. Consequently, as healthcare providers, it is important to make the patients feel as comfortable as possible to reduce their stress, while at the same time take this opportunity to educate them on sexual preventive measures and conditions that may affect them in the present and future.
Doctors are well respected within the realm of American society and are perceived with the highest regard as a profession. According to Gallup’s Honesty and Ethics in Profession polls, 67% of respondents believe that “the honesty and ethical standards” of medical doctors were “very high.” Furthermore, 88% of respondents polled by Harris Polls considered doctors to either “hold some” or a “great deal of prestige”. Consequently, these overwhelmingly positive views of the medical profession insinuate a myth of infallibility that envelops the physicians and the science they practice. Atul Gawande, in Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science, provides an extensive view of the medical profession from both sides of the operating table
After being sexually assaulted, a victim herself, Annalise Mabe, on her article “You should have been more careful: when doctors shame rape survivors”, expressed her anger and concerns towards how doctors approach patients that have been sexually assaulted. Her explanation and tone make her seem trustworthy and credible.
Disclosure is an essential aspect of a medical professional and his or her patients’ relationships. In the 1950s, the medical client and professional relationship was one of paternalism as opposed to the now fiduciary relationship. Then a paternalistic professional took all of the responsibilities, disclosed what he then thought was necessary, and essentially told the patien...
In conclusion, every patient is worried about their rights to care but not so much are focused on the rights of the physicians providing the care. It is hard to establish a respectable practice if you are required to perform care for instances in which you object or do not want to be a part of. This detracts from the ethical background of practice and procedure every physician should hold to the highest standard.
Each nurse has a duty to protect the patient as well as their right to privacy and confidentiality (ANA, 2011). Each nurse should advocate for an environment that provides sufficient physical activity, including privacy for discussions of a personal nature (ANA, 2011). It is a nurse’s responsibility to maintain confidentiality of all patient information. If this standard is not maintained, the patient’s well- being could be jeopardized. The patient’s rights, well-being, and safety should be the primary factors concerning information received orally, written, and electronically (ANA, 2011). It is the nurse’s responsibility to be...
...stand the importance of constantly incorporating permission-giving questions when talking to a patient. I know if I had a sexual concern I would not feel comfortable addressing it to a nurse on my own, however if the nurse addressed the issue first, I would feel more confident voicing my concerns. I did not understand how important it is for nurses to consider the sexual health needs when assessing a patient. I believe there is not enough information provided on this topic. When on placement, I have never seen the sexual needs of a client being addressed or discussed. Before completing this assignment I did not consider the sexual health needs of a patient to be a priority, however my opinion on the matter has certainly changed. Studying this important topic has been an eye opener, and I hope to implement all that I have learned when I go out on placement.
Consent has been a fundamental part of nursing practice dating back as far as Hippocrates in ancient Greece. The Hippocratic Oath is an ancient form of guideline, devised for those who chose to enter the medical profession. Here these guidelines show physician-patient conversation were key components in healthcare, along with ensuring patients were kept informed on issues related to their health and the importance of gaining consent during the delivery of care (Miles, 2009).
Professionalism initiative. (2012). Informally published manuscript, Medical Center, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS, Retrieved from http://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/fafd/professionalism-initiative.html
Consent is an issue of concern for all healthcare professional when coming in contact with patients either in a care environment or at their home. Consent must be given voluntary or freely, informed and the individual has the capacity to give or make decisions without fear or fraud (Mental Capacity Act, 2005 cited in NHS choice, 2010). The Mental Capacity Act perceives every adult competent unless proven otherwise as in the case of Freeman V Home Office, a prisoner who was injected by a doctor without consent because of behavioural disorder (Dimond, 2011). Consent serves as an agreement between the nurse and the patient, and allows any examination or treatment to be administered. Nevertheless, consent must be obtained in every occurrence of care as in the case of Mohr V William 1905 (Griffith and Tengrah, 2011), where a surgeon obtain consent to perform a procedure on a patient right ear. The surgeon found defect in the left ear of the patient and repaired it assuming he had obtained consent for both ear. The patient sued him and the court found the surgeon guilty of trespassing. Although there is no legal requirement that states how consent should be given, however, there are various ways a person in care of a nurse may give consent. This could be formal (written) form of consent or implied (oral or gesture) consent. An implied consent may be sufficient for taking observation or examination of patient, while written is more suitable for invasive procedure such as surgical operation (Dimond, 2011).
In today’s society with the blogs, the gossip sites and the other forms of social media, confidentiality is a thing of the past. However, for, physicians and other health professionals, they are held to a higher standard to maintain a level of ethics and confidentiality for their patients. Confidentiality is a major duty for a health professional, but is there ever a time to where it is okay to tell what a patient says in confident? What if the patient is a minor, or a senior citizen or someone who is mentally challenged? What if a patient is being abused or wants to commit suicide? Does it matter if it is a nurse, or a dentist, or a psychologist or is all medical professional held to the same moral standard? What roles does a consent form or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act plays in the medical world in being confidentiality? I would like to explore Confidentiality and the moral effects it has on the health profession.
... health professionals in the hospitals today, that these breaches can be stopped and the vulnerability of the patient remain unharmed or abused. Therefore professional boundaries ensure that there is no misuse in power resulting in dangerous patient care, and gives integrity to the nursing profession.