Hsa 515 Assignment #4

The Feeding Tube

Strayer University~HSA-515

April 2011

1. Explain how the Patient Bill of Rights applies to this situation.

The situation is that June has severe anorexia and has been hospitalized. The doctors have explained that she will need a feeding tube in order to save her life. June gives her initially but day of the procedure June becomes combative, disoriented and refuses to have the procedure done. The parents want her to have the feeding tube in spite of her refusal but the ex-husband wants to honor her wishes.

According to the Patient Bill of Rights published by the Maryland Health Care Commission (2010), the key areas in which the Patient Bill of Rights applies to this situation are: 1.) the patients right to considerate and respectful care, 2.) a clear understanding of her diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, 3.) the patients right to be a part of the decisions made regarding the treatment plan in which the patient has a right to refuse and at that time be made aware of the medical consequences and given options of other services and care, 4.) the patient has a right to have an advance directive and the hospital must honor it. If the hospital has policies in place that will not honor that advance directive then the hospital must let the patient know before making informed medical choices. This must be a part of the patient’s chart. 5.) The patient has a right to privacy but a patient can choose who will speak for them if or when a patient cannot make her own decisions. This is a policy in place for hospitals and it is documented initially in the patients chart.

According to the American cancer Society (2009), the Patient’s Bill of Rights were created to maintain the patient’s confidence in the US health care system, create a stronger bond between the patient and the provider, and to assure the role of the patient in their responsibility of their health.

2. Based on the facts given in the scenario, would the patient be considered...