uw ethics question

[obiwan]

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theres a UW question about a football player who wants to play the game even though he has mono but as the team physician, you advise against it...

the right answer is that you have to protect the health of players even against other opposition including the players wishes... however, there is an answer choice about how the physician can do all necessary treatment but ultimately the player has right to decide... why isn't it that the answer since the whole beneficience issue about patients getting to make their own decision if they are well informed

 

[DragonWell]

If they're a minor, they don't get to decide, and even if an answer choice was "Their parents insist they be allowed to play" I still think the answer would be the same. Minors are treated differently when it comes to medical decisions.

 

[DwyaneWade]

theres a UW question about a football player who wants to play the game even though he has mono but as the team physician, you advise against it...

the right answer is that you have to protect the health of players even against other opposition including the players wishes... however, there is an answer choice about how the physician can do all necessary treatment but ultimately the player has right to decide... why isn't it that the answer since the whole beneficience issue about patients getting to make their own decision if they are well informed

IMHO That does not mean you necessarily can keep the kid from playing. It means you go to whatever lengths to keep him from suiting up, including telling the coach and the administrators what you advise. The other choice is not as good because it suggests that you are hiding the patient's secret, but when you work as the team physician you are required to report the patient's health situation to your employer.

 

[DwyaneWade]

If they're a minor, they don't get to decide, and even if an answer choice was "Their parents insist they be allowed to play" I still think the answer would be the same. Minors are treated differently when it comes to medical decisions.

It was not a minor.

 

[DragonWell]

It was not a minor.

Guess I immediately leapt to my "buzzword" mono scenario.

 

[osli]

IMHO That does not mean you necessarily can keep the kid from playing. It means you go to whatever lengths to keep him from suiting up, including telling the coach and the administrators what you advise. The other choice is not as good because it suggests that you are hiding the patient's secret, but when you work as the team physician you are required to report the patient's health situation to your employer.

Bingo. You must inform the team coach and/or other team managers. The coach then has the authority to keep the player out of the game. You ultimately can't keep the player from playing if that is his wish, but all team personnel should be fully informed of what is happening. Minor or not, makes no difference.

 

[DoctaJay]

I think it was a bad question with 2 logical answers. It could go either way to me. The patient autonomy view would say that answer # 2 is just as correct. Heck, I would wager that answer # 2 happens more in real life.

 

[medstu2006]

IMHO That does not mean you necessarily can keep the kid from playing. It means you go to whatever lengths to keep him from suiting up, including telling the coach and the administrators what you advise. The other choice is not as good because it suggests that you are hiding the patient's secret, but when you work as the team physician you are required to report the patient's health situation to your employer.

What about doctor-patient confidentiality? Isn't that being violated if the doctor tells the administration about the player's mono? Ugh... i hate ethics questions.. I either over analyze them or don't think enough...

 

[DwyaneWade]

What about doctor-patient confidentiality? Isn't that being violated if the doctor tells the administration about the player's mono? Ugh... i hate ethics questions.. I either over analyze them or don't think enough...

There is no doctor-patient confidentiality in this case because the doctor is employed by the team and the player gives away those rights when they sign/enroll on a team (I think?).