Ethical Health Care Issues Paper

Ethical Health Care Issues Paper

Tiara Johnson

HCS/545

August 27, 2012

Shawna Butler

Ethical Health Care Issues Paper

Introduction

According to Women’s Health Resource (2011) “breast cancer is a serious issue that will affect almost every women worldwide, either directly as someone diagnosed with cancer, or indirectly through the illness of a loved one”( Home, para. 1).

* Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman's death is about 1 in 36 (about 3%). Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment. About 226,870 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women. About 63,300 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).

* About 39,510 women will die from breast cancer

Autonomy and Informed Consent

As stated by Bishop (2003), “respect for persons/autonomy is that a physician acknowledges a person’s right to make choices, to hold views, and take actions based on personal values, and beliefs” (p. 7). In order for an adult to refuse treatment, he or she must be legally and mentally capable by meeting the following criteria: 18 years or older, understands the nature of the condition, and voluntary. Additionally, parents with children under the age of 18 have the right to consent to treatment as well refusing treatment for his or her child. As recognized by Miller et al. (2000), physicians have a moral and legal obligation to comply with a patient’s voluntary, informed refusal of life sustaining treatment, regardless of a physician judgment concerning the medical or moral appropriateness of this.

In the case...