Childcare Consent and Ethical Dilemmas

This assignment delves into the ethical complexities surrounding patient consent in healthcare, specifically focusing on a case study involving a six-year-old child suffering from meningitis. The child's parents refuse to consent to medical treatment due to their spiritual and cultural beliefs, creating an ethical dilemma for healthcare practitioners. The assignment examines the importance of patient autonomy and the conflict between providing necessary care and respecting parental wishes. It explores the legal and ethical considerations involved in making decisions about a minor's healthcare when parental consent is withheld.

1Running head: HEALTHCARE
Healthcare
Name of student:
Name of university:
Author note:

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HEALTHCARE
Patient consent is a significant concern when it comes to health care practice, and it is
necessary for a practitioner to include this element in the care delivered to the individual
patient (Légaré et al., 2011). The holistic approach taken in nursing care justifies the
requirement of patient consent and autonomy. In case of childcare, the family members are to
provide consent regarding the care process, and their decision influences the course of care
provided. Until a child reaches the age of 18 years, he is not in a position to take decisions
regarding his healthcare (Uhl, 2013).
As per the provided case study, the consent for the care intervention of the six year
old child is to be taken from his parents. Since the child is suffering from meningitis and has
severe symptoms, it is a requisite concern to provide him with adequate treatment, not
pharmacological and non-pharmacological. The parents of the child are not providing the
consent to commence on medical treatment for the child. The parents of the child have certain
spiritual and cultural beliefs. The ethical dilemma that arises in this regard is whether the
child should be provided with the care he requires in the absence of parent’s consent since he
is in immediate need of medical attention or should he not be given so. The healthcare
practitioner needs to choose one option among these two. The treatment provided to him
would relief him from his present condition; however, there is also a need of receiving
consent for ensuing satisfaction of the parents.

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HEALTHCARE
References
Légaré, F., Stacey, D., Pouliot, S., Gauvin, F. P., Desroches, S., Kryworuchko, J., ... &
Graham, I. D. (2011). Interprofessionalism and shared decision-making in primary
care: a stepwise approach towards a new model. Journal of interprofessional
care, 25(1), 18-25.
Uhl, T., Fisher, K., Docherty, S. L., & Brandon, D. H. (2013). Insights into Patient and
Family‐Centered Care Through the Hospital Experiences of Parents. Journal of
Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 42(1), 121-13