Crazy ethics question

[stronghold]

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A 70 year old man, from a different culture, comes to your office.. Studies confirms that he has a brain tumor. You told the patient that the tumor needs to be removed, but he tells you that, according to his culture, they don't discuss such things and you need to discuss it with his family. What you need to do?

1- Tell the patient that you understand and respect his culture and beliefs, but urge him to decide by himself
2- Discuss the treatment plan with his family.

 

[001100010010011]

A 70 year old man, from a different culture, comes to your office.. Studies confirms that he has a brain tumor. You told the patient that the tumor needs to be removed, but he tells you that, according to his culture, they don't discuss such things and you need to discuss it with his family. What you need to do?

1- Tell the patient that you understand and respect his culture and beliefs, but urge him to decide by himself
2- Discuss the treatment plan with his family.

Ugh. Just ugh.

I think you discuss the plan with his family. He's basically given you permission to discuss it with them and if that's the answer choice then there's your answer. Discussing it doesn't mean making him follow the plan, does it?

Ugh.

 

[CaliAtenza]

yeah thats not fair, lol. I would probably discuss the RX with his family.

 

[stronghold]

Thanks guys. I remember a similar question Rx where the patient asked you to discuss with her family, however, choices were:
1- Ask the patient why she doesn't want to be informed
2- Obey patient's wishes and discuss with her family

The Rx answer was the first choice!!!

 

[dermpathdoc]

I tend to recommend a text to my students on medical ethics written by a Bernard Lo....it is very concise on answering these type of ethics questions.

 

[Brain Bucket]

Thanks guys. I remember a similar question Rx where the patient asked you to discuss with her family, however, choices were:
1- Ask the patient why she doesn't want to be informed
2- Obey patient's wishes and discuss with her family

The Rx answer was the first choice!!!

Completely different scenario. You're not trying to make the patient do anything. Just asking him for his rationale.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk

 

[Renaissance Man]

I tend to recommend a text to my students on medical ethics written by a Bernard Lo....it is very concise on answering these type of ethics questions.

And what exactly is Bernard's concise answer to this ethics question?

 

[dermpathdoc]

Neither of the answers given, there had to have been more than 2 choices in the answers. We only see those the exam taker thought were acceptable. What if exam taker were wrong and there were other acceptable choices?
The actual answers wold be a combination of both the answers given.
You respect the patient culture and bring the family and the patient together so all have input.

 

[ulikedaggers]

Neither of the answers given, there had to have been more than 2 choices in the answers. We only see those the exam taker thought were acceptable. What if exam taker were wrong and there were other acceptable choices?
The actual answers wold be a combination of both the answers given.
You respect the patient culture and bring the family and the patient together so all have input.

No way that would be an answer choice.. it would be too easy.

 

[Brain Bucket]

And what exactly is Bernard's concise answer to this ethics question?

'I like turtles.'

 

[Renaissance Man]

No way that would be an answer choice.. it would be too easy.

Exactly, if we good make up our own answer choices to ethics questions it would be easy. Finding the best answer when there are 2-3 subpar options is the issue.