Standard of Care
Case Study: Sandra, a 45-year old female, was brought into the emergency room by her friends with a severe head wound. According to her friends, Sandra tripped and fell after consuming several alcoholic drinks. When she arrived at the hospital she was incoherent and the hospital staff was not able to contact her next of kin. Due to the severity of her wounds, the physician chose to begin medical procedures.
1. Define “standard of care.” How would appropriate “standard of care” be determined in this case?
Standard of care is a diagnostic and treatment process that a clinician should follow for a certain type of patient, illness, or clinical circumstances. The appropriate standard of care to this patient would be to treat Sandra as in any other patient would be treated for a head injury. Medical staff should not treat her any different because she had been consuming alcohol.
2. What is the difference between informed and implied consent? Was the consent in this case implied, informed, or neither? Explain your response.
With informed consent, this means that the individual is aware of exactly what they are getting into. This usually comes up in medical settings, where before a person agrees to a procedure they must know the benefits and dangers. Another element of informed consent is that the person must be mentally capable of consenting. For example, giving a severely intoxicated individual a list of benefits and dangers doesn't really "inform" him of anything. Implied consent is when you don't affirmatively express consent verbally or in writing, but your behavior indicates your consent. For example, if a nurse comes in the room and asks if it is okay to take your blood pressure, and you raise your arm to her, you are consenting to the procedure. In this case, Sandra was under implied consent. The patient was incoherent and could not verbally consent to treatment and be informed of any proceedings.
3. Using the internet, research the Patient Care
1. Define “standard of care.” How would appropriate “standard of care” be determined in this case?
Standard of care is a diagnostic and treatment process that a clinician should follow for a certain type of patient, illness, or clinical circumstances. The appropriate standard of care to this patient would be to treat Sandra as in any other patient would be treated for a head injury. Medical staff should not treat her any different because she had been consuming alcohol.
2. What is the difference between informed and implied consent? Was the consent in this case implied, informed, or neither? Explain your response.
With informed consent, this means that the individual is aware of exactly what they are getting into. This usually comes up in medical settings, where before a person agrees to a procedure they must know the benefits and dangers. Another element of informed consent is that the person must be mentally capable of consenting. For example, giving a severely intoxicated individual a list of benefits and dangers doesn't really "inform" him of anything. Implied consent is when you don't affirmatively express consent verbally or in writing, but your behavior indicates your consent. For example, if a nurse comes in the room and asks if it is okay to take your blood pressure, and you raise your arm to her, you are consenting to the procedure. In this case, Sandra was under implied consent. The patient was incoherent and could not verbally consent to treatment and be informed of any proceedings.
3. Using the internet, research the Patient Care