Ethical Issues in Health and Social Care

Running head: HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Case study:
Bob has been to his local trust hospital in the Genito urinary clinic, where he has been
notified by Dr Gomez that he is HIV positive. Dr Gomez advices him to inform his partners
about his status. In the previous 18 months, Bob has been started the therapy. Bob was with his
present partner Sue, and in the next 2 months they'll have a child. He was even engaged in
relationship with other sexual partners before the current relationship with Sue. Dr Gomez has
made it apparently clear during frequent trips to the clinic that Bob has not told him that he is
HIV. Dr Gomez is conscious of the advent of the child and informs Bob whether sue is HIV-
positive and whether the child is at danger so that therapy can begin if needed.Bob continues
stubbornly to refuse and declares that he will halt his therapy if informed to Sue about his
condition without his permission.
Ethical issues:
The ethical issues in relevance to the above case study cannot be only focused on the
issues faced by the doctor. The victim, Bob, has also faced a dilemma against what step he
should take about his life, whether he should tell that to his partner or keep it within himself.
Although, Bob decided to not share and inform about the same to his partner, Sue and also others
and was too stubborn with his decision. However, the ethical dilemma faced by the doctor gained
prime importance here. In professional field, doctors come across a lot of complicated issues and
dilemmas. First of all, it is the primary responsibility of a doctor to keep everything confined to
the room and not share those patient’s details with others. A doctor cannot compromise with the
confidentiality of the patient and it is also the responsibility of a doctor to provide treatment and
quality care to the patient and ensure the patients are aware of their disease and protect them and

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HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
associated people. The above case study is an illustration of the ethical dilemmas a doctor
usually faces in these cases. There was a continuous conflict between confidentiality and
protecting autonomy of the patient and to consider treatment and protect the patient and his
upcoming child. The patient told the doctor that he will not come for treatment if the doctor
makes his partner, Sue, aware of his condition. Therefore, another issue that was raised was
whether to choose what is right or ethical and moral or to stick to his business. While practicing,
medical professionals also consider the benefits he gets while practising in terms of money.
Therefore another issue caught our attention was losing a patient that eventually will have an
impact on the doctor’s business.
First of all, the main issue in relevance to the above case study is confidentiality. Doctors
need to protect privacy of the patient by maintaining confidentiality. The patients must be treated
in such a manner that they do not feel hesitate for an open communication with the doctor. The
medical information needed including the background history of the patient for further treatment
must be disclosed creating trust between the doctor and the patient. It is the responsibility of the
doctor to provide a comfortable atmosphere and a bond of trust. Universal Declaration of Human
Rights in Article 12 states that nobody is arbitrarily interfered with his privacy, family, home or
correspondence, nor his honour and reputation attacked. Everybody shall have the right, against
this intervention or attack, to protect the law. Therefore, if Dr Gomez disclosed the fact to Sue,
there would be a breach in the laws violating on the right to privacy. However, Dr. Gomez '
nature is to conduct the injustice done to Sue, his wife and baby that they expecting, according to
his emotion. In addition, this case highlights the issue of disclosure related to confidentiality and
the associated benefit of the individuals involved.