“I am dying from the treatment of too many physicians” – Alexander the Great
To many people these are just empty words with no meaning, but to others it defines the state of their lives that they are currently living in. I have recently came across a situation where these words jumped at me and impacted me in a way it never had before.
During the first few weeks of our clinical blocks, while treating one of my patient’s in the wards, out of the corner of my eye, another patient caught my attention. She was laying peacefully in bed, mumbling words of some sort to herself, but what really caught my attention was the restraints on her arm and leg. Normally this type of thing will not scream for my attention, as this seems to be a norm in some hospitals, but this time it felt different. It could have been the constant check-ups by the nurses to see if the patient was still comfortable, or the constant chats between the other patients about her that drew my attention.
It turned out that the patient had been diagnosed with cancer and that complications due to her condition led to her being readmitted to the hospital, after she was discharged the previous week. She was readmitted on the commands of her children, who she lives with. The patient, however, did not want to be readmitted to the hospital as she complained of the number of weeks she already had to spend in hospital, due to her condition. Her biggest wish was to be at home. The patient therefore tried a few times to leave on her own, to go back home, without informing the hospital staff or her children. This led to the patient’s family, along with the staff members’ decision, to restrain the patient to her bed, as she was seen as a “run-away patient” at that time. The family believed that this was necessary, as she needed treatment in order to get better.
One can argue that this patient has the right to medical care, and that the patient’s family had this in mind while making the decision to restrain her to bed, in order to get the necessary treatment. Ghebreyesus (2017) states that “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being, without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition”. On the other hand, he also states that everyone has the right to be treated with respect and dignity and that no patient should be forced to be medically examined and treated without informed consent (Ghebreyesus, 2017).
Every patient, furthermore, has the right to refuse treatment, even though it might result in death. This decision must always be respected. The refusal of treatment is only valid if the decision is voluntarily made by the patient and all necessary information is portrait to them. The patient’s decision to refuse treatment should be made independently without the influence of family, friends or health professionals. Furthermore, appropriate information about the risks of refusing treatment has to be portrait to the patient. Only one exception can be made to the right of refusing treatment. This include the professionals doubting the lack of capacity, of the patient, to make an informed and voluntary decision regarding their treatment (NHS, 2017).
Forced treatment as opposed to the right to refuse treatment has been an age-old conflict for medical practitioners. The patient’s choice to refuse treatment is protected by their rights and no medical practitioner or anyone else’s opinion should disregard that decision, as difficult as it may be to accept.
References:
Ghebreyesus, T. (2017, December 10). World Health Orginization . Retrieved from https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/fundemental-human-right/en/
NHS. (2017, January 11). NHS. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/nhs-services-and-treatments/do-i-have-the-right-to-refuse-treatment/
3 thoughts on ““I am dying from the treatment of too many physicians””
Hello Deone’,
Thank you for allowing me to read your piece on the right to refuse treatment. Wow, this piece stunned me. I have never come across a patient that had refused all medical treatment. It was horrible to read that the patient is refusing treatment and that the medical professionals and her family are forcing her into treatment. The quote you used “I am dying from the treatment of too many physicians” complements your writing piece very well. The topic used about refusing treatment reflects on what was discussed in ethics class. Therefore, I would rate that the content of your writing piece is very good.
The argument of forced treatment as opposed to the right to refuse treatment was very well structured. This argument was made based on knowledge as I could see you used quite a lot of references. It was easy to grasp the argument and the difficulty the argument portraits. I agree with that it is the patient’s choice to refuse treatment and no medical practitioner or anyone else’s opinion should disregard that decision. To make your argument stronger consider telling the story about how the patient was restrained to the bed in a more powerful manner. This can be done in the second paragraphs first two sentences. The first sentence explains how the other patient caught your attention while busy with your patient. Whereas the second sentence explains this patient as laying peacefully in bed and then only later in the sentence it is mentioned about her having restrains on one arm and leg. The first sentence creates expectation about what caught your attention and then the second sentence creates confusing when the patient is laying peacefully. Consider mentioning the restrains first then followed by her mumbling words to herself peacefully while laying in bed. This will draw more focus on the restrains and how the medical professionals are keeping the patient in the hospital against her will.
Adding references to the writing piece made your argument stronger. Well done on getting references on both sides of the argument. The in-text referencing is correct according to the APA-style. Remember to add the reference list at the bottom of your writing piece.
I enjoyed reading your writing piece. The paragraphs are well constructed and easy to read. Consider using more formal words to make your writing piece stronger. Overall, I found your writing piece extremely interesting and it got me thinking about what I would do if I ever got placed in situation where one of my own family members refused treatment. Will I want to force them into getting treatment or will I respect their rights to refuse treatment. This will always be a difficult situation.
Few grammar errors that I have noticed:
First paragraph
– Second sentence: add have “I have recently…”
Second paragraph
– First sentence: Consider using treating on of my patient’s rather than working with one of my patient’s
– Seconder sentence: swap peacefully laying around that it is laying peacefully
Third paragraph
– Second sentence: consider changing “This all happened on the commands of her children” to “She was readmitted on the commands of her children” otherwise it causes confusing if her children demanded her discharge or readmission.
– Third sentence: Consider swapping, “The patient however…” to “However, the patient…”
– Third sentence: change amount to number
– Fifth sentence: Consider swapping, “The patient therefore…” to “Therefore, the patient…”
Fifth paragraph
– Second sentence: change “must be respected at all times” to “must always be respected”
Thank you and all the best
Megan
Dear Deone’.
Thank you for sharing your writing piece. I genuinely enjoyed reading this, and it made me realise how often we are in a ward where only one patient is our patients, but so many of them are crying out for help, and sometimes we do nothing about it.
Your piece is very good, and the content is related to the topics discussed in the module, the content is very good, especially the opening quote, it is a very deep quote and really grabs the attention of the reader.
the patients story really grabbed my attention as well, and sparked a sense of empathy as a soon to be health professional, we all just want what is best for our patients, and we need to realise that sometimes treatment is not the best. I am truly glad you took time out to listen to the patients story.
your referencing Is relevant and correct. I particularly like that you referenced the patients point of view of the right to refuse treatment as well as the family’s point of view that the patient deserves the treatment. the fact that you have explored both sides makes your argument stronger and it portrays just how much of a dilemma this is.
including Megan’s grammar advice, please see the third sentence of the second last paragraph ” need to be portrait” , should be ” has to be portrayed”.
I truly enjoyed this piece of writing, well done.
all the best for your final piece.
Kayelene Bezuidenhout
Hi Deone
Thank you for your piece on the right to refuse treatment. I enjoyed reading your piece as I often come across patients who are restrained, however this is different. The patients I see are usually restrained because they remove their catheter, drip or NGT, never a patient who wants to leave the hospital.
Your content is good and relates to topics covered in class. The fact that you stated the patients views made your argument stronger. You tell us what the patient feels and you referenced you statements which strengthened your argument. The flow of your piece is good.
I liked the fact that you started with a quote that is relevant to your topic. I suggest you think of more interesting heading.
Megan and Kaylene already corrected all your grammatical errors, I suggest you consider it.
Thank you
Robert