Report: Ethico-Legal Analysis of a Healthcare Scenario Case Study

This report presents an analysis of a healthcare scenario involving a 27-year-old woman with acquired brain injury and left lower lobe pneumonia. The report delves into the ethical and legal considerations surrounding her care, particularly focusing on a situation where the patient left the hospital due to anxiety. Utilizing Driscoll's reflection model (What, So What, Now What), the analysis explores the student's experiences in a busy medical ward, highlighting the importance of ethical knowledge among healthcare workers, the need for proper patient registration, and the impact of patient anxiety on treatment. The report also reflects on the student's role in providing care, the challenges faced, and potential solutions for future practice, including seeking guidance from senior doctors and understanding patients' needs to improve their treatment and overall well-being. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of ethical and legal aspects in healthcare to ensure patient satisfaction, proper treatment, and the maintenance of a positive brand image for healthcare organizations. References include various books and journals related to medical ethics and patient care.

Analyse A Healthcare
Scenario

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
What............................................................................................................................................2
So what........................................................................................................................................3
Now what....................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
This report is based on health care analysis which is related to a case study of an 27-
years old lady who is suffering with left lower pneumonia. This is suffering from Acquired Brain
Injury (ABI) from last 18 years. Hence this report provides descriptive analysis of her case study
in regards of ethico- legal perspective. This report is based on reflection over the case study in
context of ethico- legal aspects. In this report, there is discussion about Driscoll's reflection
model which is important and significant because it emphasise on “What”, “So What” and “Now
What” (Bawany and Padela, 2017).
MAIN BODY
Shelly is a 27 years old woman who is suspected under the case of left lower lobe
pneumonia. Apart from this is suffering from acquired brain injury due to which requires little
extra care. I working at regional hospital in busy medical ward. I face an issue under which
Shelly requires medication facilities from health and care organisation because her mother is
outside town. But when her mother was outside the town, so she get anxious and get out of the
hospital. This shows hospital employees are not working up to the mark and there is legal and
unethical related issues (BOWMAN, 2019). So I am using Driscoll's model through which
learning can be generated regarding having practice in medical facilities and get experience with
different cases to learn with it. There are three main stages in Driscoll's reflection model i.e.
What, So what and Now what. This model was introduced in 1994. Stages of Driscoll's model of
reflection is as under-
1

(Source: Driscoll's Model of Reflection, 2019)
I am student of under graduate nursing sector, so I have different experience in health and
social care sector because of internship and training. I worked in clinic to get practical
knowledge about issues which arise with them because without practical knowledge I am not
able to handle issues which I face while working at specific designation. With this experience, I
am able to understand what has to be done in negative situation to deal with it an provide best
care to patients.
What
While working in regional hospital for one week, I faced an issue which is not ethical and
legal in my view because that particular event is not good for individuals. There was a 27 years
woman who is suffering from brain injury but can perform work properly. She was anxious
because her mother was apart from her for meeting her brother inter- state. Due to anxiety, she
left the hospital and get on road. Resident individual inform police and then she went back to
2
Illustration 1: Driscoll's Model of Reflection

hospital. So there is improper legal policies due to which patient get outside the campus . After
getting in Shelly at hospital, she was locked in an room. Hence she was frustrated and not ready
to take proper medicines. So I feel there is ethico- legal issues which affects image of regional
hospital (Bowman, 2019).
With the help if this experience, I feel that there is requirement of some ethical
knowledge to workers through which they treat patients with care. It is important because as
Shelly is not suffering from mental disorder but if she is treated in ill- mannered manner, then
their mental peace might get affected negatively. If Shelly is treated properly, then she might get
ready to take proper medicines till her mother arrives. There is legal issue also because without
any check- in and out entry, how is it possible for patient to get out of premises. Hence I feel that
there is legal issue because of improper registration of patients. It is important to take attendance
of patients twice a day. This assist in proper check of patients. I feel that there is requirement of
proper knowledge regarding Shelly and then provide specific facilities to her.
So what
I am a nursing student studying at under graduation level in a university. I was sent by
my college to a busy medical ward of a near by hospital to take care of patients and assist the
doctors who are working there from a long period. I was responsible to work in an afternoon
shift which my preceptor (Padela and Duivenbode, 2018). I was asked to take care of a patient
named Shelley who was 27 years old and admitted to the hospital three days back. She was
admitted due to her suspected lower lobe pneumonia. She was also dealing with a brain injury
which was sustained around one and half year ago. Reason behind it was falling from her horse.
She used to live with her mother but her mother was out of town to meet her brother for three
week that's why she was shifted to the hospital.
She perform her daily activities independently by her own but she requires timely
prompting and assistance so that she can take her medications properly. She has a tendency to
enter in other patient's room and run away from hospital it is one of the main reason why hospital
staff is required to keep eye on her (Comandè and Schneider, 2018). She always remains calm
and patient but as her mother is away from her so some times she become anxious.
One day she found running around the streets and in this situation one of the staff
members of hospital called police and she was returned to the care home. In this situation I was
asked to take care of her in her bed only. Her bed was rails raised and door was closed. A notice
3

was also published that doctors are required to giver her daily dose of medications. Whenever a
person enters in her room she screams and refuse to take medicine.
In the above mentioned situations I acted appropriately and tried hard to make everything
comfortable for Shelley so that she can get proper treatment and recover as soon as possible.
When I was asked to take care of her then I always tried to be frank with her so that she can feel
better and reduce screaming when she is asked to take medicine. My and Shelley's relation was
very good she used to communicate with me and shared her thoughts that she misses her mother.
Her attitude towards me was also good as I behaved as a friend to her. When I entered to the
room of Shelley's room I felt very bad for her because she have to be caged in a room with door
closed. My new understanding of this situation is that if a doctor or nurse is willing that the
patient should recover faster then they should treat them appropriately (Haneef and Majid, 2015).
The issues which have taken place at my job were changing behaviour of Shelley as was not
aware of such types of situations and don't know how to react in such conditions.
Now what
When I was in the hospital and taking care of Shelley then various actions were taken by
me and in future I am also responsible to take other actions as a nurse. First of all I have to take
guidance from senior doctors so that I can be aware of changing behaviour of patients. With the
help of it I will be able to tackle the situation such as screaming patients properly. In order to
make things better for may patients I am responsible to understand their needs and fulfil them
with the help of right medicine.
If the situation of screaming patient such as Shelley takes place again then I will be
prepared to deal with it as I have planned to take proper guidance from senior doctors of hospital.
In future I will also be able to deal with broader issues as I will have experience of responding
the same situations. While working in the hospital I acquired different skills and knowledges
which will be beneficial for me in future to work as a nurse in a hospital (Mahesh, 2014). For
example, I have learned that nurses and doctors are required to handle patients calmly and this
learning of mine could be used by me to handle individuals in hospital in upcoming period of
time.
4

CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it is clear that there is requirement of ethical and legal aspects
properly because this assist in keeping consumers satisfied and take care of patients properly.
With legal and ethics, there is proper treatment with patients and they are take care in absence of
their relatives and family. If patient is not well, then there is requirement of some medication
through understanding their personal demand such as love, affection, etc. With it, they are mental
satisfied and there is improvement in their health. It is important to take attendance of patients
twice and proper entry for entry and exist has to be done. With the help of ethics and legal
consideration in health and care organisation, brand image can be maintained.
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Bawany, M. H. and Padela, A. I., 2017. Hymenoplasty and Muslim patients: Islamic ethico-legal
perspectives. The journal of sexual medicine. 14(8). pp.1003-1010.
BOWMAN, D., 2019. 22. WISDOMAND ETHICO-LEGAL PRACTICE. Practice Wisdom:
Values and Interpretations, p.265.
Bowman, D., 2019. Wisdom and Ethico-Legal Practice: Ways of Seeing and Ways of Being.
In Practice Wisdom (pp. 265-276). Brill Sense.
Comandè, G. and Schneider, G., 2018. Regulatory Challenges of Data Mining Practices: The
Case of the Never-ending Lifecycles of ‘Health Data’. European Journal of Health
Law. 25(3). pp.284-307.
Haneef, S. S. S. and Majid, M. Z. H. A., 2015. Medical management of infant intersex: The
juridico‐ethical dilemma of contemporary islamic legal response. Zygon®. 50(4).
pp.809-829.
Mahesh, K., 2014. Genomic sovereignty in South Africa: ethico-legal issues (Doctoral
dissertation).
Padela, A. I. and Duivenbode, R., 2018. The ethics of organ donation, donation after circulatory
determination of death, and xenotransplantation from an Islamic
perspective. Xenotransplantation. 25(3). pp.1-12.
Padela, A. I., 2015. Muslim perspectives on the American healthcare system: the discursive
framing of “Islamic” bioethical discourse. Die Welt des Islams,. 55(3-4). pp.413-447.
Pakes, B. N., 2014. Ethical analysis in public health practice: Heterogeny, Discensus and the
Man-on-the-Clapham Omnibus (Doctoral dissertation, University of Toronto (Canada)).
Pakes, B. N., 2014. Ethical Analysis in Public Health Practice(Doctoral dissertation).
Qureshi, O. and Padela, A. I., 2016. When must a patient seek healthcare? Bringing the
perspectives of Islamic jurists and clinicians into dialogue. Zygon®. 51(3). pp.592-625.
6