A 14-year-old female presents to the clinic for her annual physical examination. The setting is a private examination room with a table, chair, and medical equipment. The encounter is a routine physical examination to assess the client’s growth, development, and overall health status

Legal and Ethical Issues in the Healthcare Industry

The healthcare sector focuses on different aspects of care and can be used to help provide the most efficient treatment and healing. However, there are various forms of health practices that have legal and ethical issues which ought to be addressed. For instance, end-of-life care, abortions, and other moral dilemmas can interfere with the nature in which care providers are to address an issue related to healthcare delivery. Be that as it may, understanding the different ways in which legal and ethical issues affect the healthcare sector can help in creating a more efficient way to increase patient outcomes.

Describe why there is such a struggle when addressing end-of-life issues

End-of-life issues refer to the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that arise as a person nears the end of their life. These issues can be difficult to address, both for the individual facing the end of life and for their loved ones (Leget & Kohlen, 2020). Addressing end-of-life issues can be challenging due to a lack of clear communication and planning, financial strain, emotional difficulties, cultural and religious differences, and limited access to quality care. It is important for individuals and their loved ones to be proactive in addressing these issues and seeking support as needed.

One of the main struggles with end-of-life issues is the financial burden that the care can place on individuals and their families. Medical treatment and palliative care can be expensive, and many people do not have sufficient insurance coverage or financial resources to cover these costs (Leget & Kohlen, 2020). This can lead to financial strain and stress for families trying to make difficult end-of-life decisions.

The other major struggle in addressing end-of-life issues is the lack of clear communication and planning. Many people do not have an advance directive, which is a document that outlines their wishes for end-of-life care. Without an advance directive, loved ones may be left to make decisions about medical treatment, palliative care, and other end-of-life issues without clear guidance (Leget & Kohlen, 2020).

This can lead to disagreement and conflict among family members, which can be emotionally difficult for everyone involved. Healthcare professionals might also be limited by the lack of clear direction from the family to make it difficult to make the required outcomes.

Cultural and religious beliefs can also play a role in end-of-life struggles. Different cultures and religions have different beliefs about death, dying, and end-of-life care (Leget & Kohlen, 2020). These beliefs can influence the decisions that individuals and their families make about end-of-life care. For instance, some cultures may place a greater emphasis on prolonging life at all costs, while others may prioritize comfort and quality of life.

The emotional toll of end-of-life issues can also be significant for the patient, family, and care providers. For the individual facing the end of their life, there may be feelings of fear, sadness, and anxiety about what lies ahead. For their loved ones, there may be grief and sadness at the thought of losing someone they love (Leget & Kohlen, 2020).

Dealing with these emotions can be difficult, and many people may need support from counselors or support groups to help them cope. Finally, access to quality end-of-life care can be a struggle for many people. In some cases, individuals may live in areas where access to hospice care or other palliative services is limited. This can make it difficult for them to receive the care and support they need as they near the end of their life.

What are the differences between allowing a patient to die and physician-assisted suicide?

Different forms of end-of-life care can be used within the healthcare sector to help patients make the decisions they need (Dierickx et al., 2020). To begin with, allowing a patient to die focuses on the strategies that care providers use to allow for a dignified death. By allowing the patient to die, the care providers refrain from administering any form of care or aid and engages in non-resuscitation to allow the patient to succumb to the disease.

The process doe not entail any use of lethal injection or mercy killing (Dierickx et al., 2020). On the other hand, physician-assisted suicide also known as assisted dying or aid-in-dying, refers to the practice of a physician providing a patient with the means to end their own life, typically through the prescription of a lethal dose of medication (Pozgar, 2020).