Need your opinion on some ethics Q's

[doctorknownothing]

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Hey all,

Recently took an "important exam" and anxiety has been getting the best of me... so whats your opinion on the following 2.

14 month child isn't walking but language is normal, and handing object hand to hand. do you tell them theres a developmental delay or reassure that this is normal? I went with normal because its only 2 months off and telling a patient there child is developmentally delayed seems a little invasive for something as variable as walking.

Underage patient wants birth control and doesn't want parents to know.... Prescribe medication or encourage to talk to parents. Seen this question go both ways, but since it specifically said doesn't want to tell parents, i went with the encourage to talk because the rule i use is always to encourage communication.

Thanks in advance!

 

[catzzz88]

First one I think 2 months off is completely normal and it doesn't make sense to tell parent.

Birth control I think you should prescribe for her. In real world, encourage her to talk to parents as well, but she should get the mess she wants so that she doesn't get pregnant. Also counsel her about safe sex

 

[Blue Flame]

Two months variation on most developmental milestones is completely normal. Moreover, if you look in BRS Behavioral Science, it lists 12-15 months for walking unassisted so the child is still in that range.

If the girl specifically mentions that she doesn't want her parents to know, and assuming the two answer choices are mutually exclusive (i.e. you can't prescribe birth control if you advocate discussion and you can't advocate discussion if you choose to prescribe birth control), then you go with prescribing birth control since contraception is one of those things you don't need parental consent on, and because it's hugely important that the girl does not get pregnant against her wishes. This is one of those rare situations that "advocate discussion" seems to be the wrong answer. In the real world, you would do both of course.

 

[SpartanWolverine]

Yep, 12-18mo is what I think of for walking, so I agree that the "reassure" option is best.

Agree with the above poster that, if mutually exclusive, prescribe. Depends on how the question was worded, though. If it said something like "what is the best first step" then I would go for the "encourage to discuss with parents".

 

[doctorknownothing]

Damn 3-1, sitting there I specifically remembered first aid listed both lol... Time limits man!

And yeah they were mutually exclusive... Douchebag move question writer!!