Category / Case Studies / Challenging patient encounters / Medical Ethics
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![Angry older man.]()
Case Study – The Noncompliant or Nonadherent Patient
Rick is a 78-year-old male patient, suffering from ESRD, among other ailments. Rick is known to the hospital staff as being a “problem patient.” He has a history of noncompliance and behavioral issues, including being verbally abusive to family and staff.
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![Pregnant belly.]()
Case Study – “You are Violating My HIPAA rights.” Patient Privacy
Skyler is a 33-year-old female, who is 38.5 weeks pregnant and came to the hospital in labor. When she presented to the hospital, Skyler was given the standard admission paperwork, and signed without any questions or issues (although was in considerable distress due to active labor and did not have anyone else at the hospital with her). The patient is relatively well known to the hospital, having presented several times due in fact to her history of drug and substance abuse.
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![Woman getting a band aid after a vaccine.]()
Case Study – “I Don’t Trust It.” Vaccine Hesitancy During a Pandemic
Sam (age 54) and Rebecca (age 56) Johnson are chatting with their neighbor and family friend Dr. Irving. During the friendly talk, the topic of COVID-19 vaccines comes up. Dr. Irving says that he just got his second dose to be fully vaccinated but that it really “knocked me down for two days.” At this, Sam and Rebecca both say that is one of the reasons they do not think they will get the vaccine.
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![A woman practicing yoga.]()
Case Study – Vaccine Line Skipping: A Matter of Fairness
Jessica is a 33-year-old female, who relatively speaking, is a healthy individual. She does have level 1 asthma, which is well managed and has not had an incident or attack in recent memory. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, she has been “working from home” for the past year, with no excessive diminishing of her quality of life.
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![A close up of a man with a tear coming from his eye.]()
Case Study –God Wants Me to Suffer. Hospital Care and Religious Beliefs
Landon is a 47-year-old father of two who has a history of alcohol abuse but has been sober for over a year. He was admitted from the emergency department, where he presented earlier this morning with acute abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with pancreatitis and biliary colic, indicating the need for a cholecystectomy (a laparoscopic procedure to remove the gallbladder to prevent gall stones, pain and infection).
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![Nurse showing stress.]()
Case Study – Moral Distress and Hospital Workers
Jennifer is an ICU nurse, having worked for Pleasantville Medical Center for 20 years. Currently, she says she is taking Covid-19 hard. She has confided to friends and fellow hospital staff that she feels she is carrying a large burden.
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![Woman in fighting stance with fighting gear on.]()
Case Study – Continue to Fight? Patient Decision-Making Changes
Sarah is a 73-year-old individual who identifies as female and is suffering from metastatic colon cancer. While an inpatient, she is cared for by her longtime oncologist, hospitalists, and ultimately a critical care team. Initially Sarah has decision-making capacity, Sarah makes decisions with her family (husband and two adult children).
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![Man appearing isolated.]()
Case Study – Go Home and Die Alone. Social Isolation
Riley is a 42-year-old who identifies as male. He was admitted to the hospital for shortness of breath and kidney complications. Riley is found to be in acute kidney failure, with his nephrologist recommending dialysis. Riley does have decision-making capacity but does not have any family or surrogate decision maker.
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![Man's legs sitting in wheelchair.]()
Case Study – Don’t Take My Foot! Surrogate Decision-Making
The patient, Lockett, is an 82-year-old male, admitted for shortness of breath and complications from his diabetes. Lockett has been diabetic for over 10 years and has not been following the treatment plan outlined by his physicians.
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![Man with an angry face.]()
Case Study – Should Leo’s Nonadherence be Grounds for Firing Him as a Patient
The patient, Leo, is a 54-year-old male, suffering from multiple medical condition including shortness of breath, COPD, renal complications, and confusion. Leo has a history of alcohol and substance abuse. The patient does have decision making capacity but is also supported and spoken for (not in an official way) by his large family.
