'Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare\r'

' bait sorts positive for hepatitis C. DR. smith who ordered the labs is likewise Josh’s brother-in- equity. When Dr. metalworker informs Josh that his payoffs will be account statemented to the public health department, asks Dr. smith non to report him as a favor since they argon family and he promises to croak treatment somewhere else. Josh is discompose by the fashion he assure the disease. Not only is Dr. smith asked to establish the law by his brother-in-law, his wife, Josh’s sister, who is concerned for her brother expects Dr. Smith to portion the examen results of his tolerant.If he tells her whatsoeverthing without Josh’s consent he will cave in HIPPA. Dr Smith is worried slightly beingness accused of mal perpetrate if he gives in and doesn’t ensure Josh’s results are non only reported exclusively also that he receives straight-laced flush for the diagnoses. This quality is legally and honorablely sensitive. The doc exhibits issues with kindreds, confidentiality, consent, legal requirements of treating inherited diseases, as comfortably as malpractice. Legal and â€Å"Ethical issues in healthcare are common. Nearly all decision that’s made has honourable implicationsâ€for affected roles, for providers and for healthcare leaders.â€Å" (Larson, 2013).The first ethical entrancement that Dr. Smith is guilt-ridden of is having a private relationship with a patient. â€Å"Relationships with patients are prohibit by both the medical and nursing code of ethics. Such actions are considered terrible misconduct and can result in expulsion from the profession and losing the license to practice” (Greenwood, 2013). Because of the relationship with the patient, Dr. Smith is being asked to unhallow the patient’s confidentiality. â€Å"Confidentiality is both an ethical and a legal issue.Keeping instruction about a patient confidential is a way of showing respect for th e somebody’s autonomy; releasing data can damage the patient. ” (Greenwood, 2013). Dr. Smith’s wife asks him to share medical information about her brother, She feels she has the right to this information only does not understand the position she is pose her husband in. he understands her concerns for her brother, however if this were any(prenominal) other patient Dr. Smith would neer consider discussing a patient with her. â€Å"thither are also specific laws regarding the poke of information under the wellness redress Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA.The laws define scarce what information can be released and to whom. ” (Greenwood, 2013). Dr. Smith needs to ensure he keeps the confidentiality of his patient and doesn’t violate HIPPA. Josh is also asking Dr. Smith to break the law by not report the test results to the public health department. There is a legal requirement for reporting and treating communicable diseases. â€Å" Reporting of fountains of infectious diseases and related conditions has been and rest a vital step in controlling and preventing the spread of communicable disease. ” (CDC, 1990).Dr. Smith must report the positive test results according to the law; however he does have a close relationship with his brother-in-law and does not want to lose his trust, curiously with his current medical condition. Although Dr. Smith does not need consent to report the case of hepatitis C, he will need the patient’s consent to begin any treatment for the disease. â€Å"Patients must provide informed consent for treatment to be legal. ” (Greenwood, 2013). â€Å"Health care practitioners of all sorts face the chance of being sued for malpractice.A lawsuit may be brought from an injury related to surgery, defective equipment or medical products, care that was omitted or a deliberate act that caused harm to a patient. ” (Greenwood, 2013). Dr. Smith can be sued for malpractic e by anyone who contracts hepatitis C from Josh if he does not report the case and give Josh the proper treatment. By choosing to not report or treat Josh’s case, Dr. Smith will be guilty of omitting care. A kind act by a caring doctor has quick turned into a legally and ethically nightmare. Dr.Smith chose to make his brother-in-law a patient by ordering labs that gave a positive result for hepatitis C. Dr. Smith can now face charges and lose his license to practice medicine. This building block situation could have been handled differently and the cargo of violating medical law and ethics would not be on Dr. Smith’s shoulders. There is still a way for out of the doctor to correct the situation. completely he has to do is report the case of hepatitis C, and hand off his brother-in-law to another provider with no connection to ensure he does in fact receive the proper care.\r\n'