select ONE of these case-studies to write about.
1. A community health centre produces written leaflets in English about breast cancer and screening. The leaflets are distributed in an area where English is not the first language of a significant number of residents. Despite being aware that these recipients may be unable to access the information, the health centre manager refuses to provide translations or audio-visual versions of the leaflets.
2. An elderly woman named Violet Simpson, 84, was receiving treatment for angina over the course of two years. Prior to having an operation for a bunion on her big toe, she was sent for a heart scan. It was then discovered that the issue was in fact not angina, but a leaky valve. However, when requesting for it to be treated, Violet was disregarded by doctors. She said, “I asked if I could have this fixed. The attitude from doctors was: What are you bothered about, at your age?”
She eventually managed to get an appointment; “I stuck to my guns and said I wanted this job done.” But she said, “The whole experience made me feel pushed aside.”
3. Mr. S is a 41-year-old unemployed male. He is diabetic and suffers from ischaemic heart disease and cerebro-vascular disease, leading to his stroke in 2000. In 2001, his kidneys failed as well. His condition is irreversible, and he is now in the final stages of chronic renal failure. His life could be prolonged by regular renal dialysis treatment. He has sought such treatment from the renal unit of the public hospital; however they can only provide dialysis treatment to a limited number of patients. Because of the shortage of resources, the hospital follows a set policy regarding the use of its dialysis resources. Only patients suffering from acute renal failure that can be treated and remedied by renal dialysis are given automatic access to renal dialysis at the hospital. Those patients who, like Mr. S, suffer from irreversible chronic renal failure are not automatically admitted to the renal dialysis programme. Access to dialysis treatments for patients like Mr. S is given only to those eligible for a kidney transplant. Mr. S suffers from ischaemic heart disease and cerebro-vascular disease, and is therefore not eligible for a kidney transplant. Therefore, the hospital has been unable to provide Mr. S with the treatment he has requested. Mr. S has managed to receive dialysis treatment from private hospitals and doctors, but his finances have been depleted and he claims he is no longer able to afford such treatments.
4. Dora and Simon had been married for 59 years. Dora was blind and had recently developed Alzheimer’s. She and Simon were injured in a fall at home, and Simon was no longer able to care for her while he recovered. During this time, Dora was moved into a local publically funded nursing home.
It became clear that Dora would have to stay in a nursing home, but Simon visited her every day. However, their relationship was threatened when the local authority decided to move Dora into a permanent nursing home that was too far away for Simon and their children to visit.
5. In 2014, paediatrician Dr. Roi refused to care for a same-sex couple’s baby because of her anti-gay religious beliefs. After “much prayer” she’d decided she couldn’t treat their baby because they are lesbians. The couple had to instead be seen by a different paediatrician even though they had handpicked Dr. Roi out of all the ones they had interviewed. Dr. Roi sent them a letter of apology 4 months later, although she didn’t retract her refusal to care for their baby.
Dr. Roi made it clear that she was very strongly invested in delivering wholesome care; she stated “I love my families, my patients. I love my kids, and I have become very close with all my patients.”
6. Your dad’s in a care home. He has mental health problems and can become aggressive if he’s stressed or anxious. Recently his behaviour has become worse, he’s very anxious and refuses to eat. The care staff do not seem to know how to deal with him and he’s not getting appropriate care. You’re angry because you’ve told them they should do things a certain way to make your dad feel safe and less stressed, but no one listens to you.
7.Baldeep is a baptised Sikh and follows the practice of wearing the 5 ‘Ks’ this includes wearing the Kirpan. The Kirpan is a very small sword. As is the custom, Baldeep wears hers underher clothing in a cloth sheath. For her, and for all baptised Sikhs, it is a symbol of the commitment she has made to follow the Sikh way of life and carries a deep spiritual significance. She will never remove it unless absolutely necessary.
Unfortunately, one day Baldeep felt very unwell and had to go the nearest Accident and Emergency Department. Whilst she removed clothing to be examined the nurse asked what it was that she was wearing. The nurse became alarmed that Baldeep was carrying what looked like a knife and refused Baldeep any further assistance until the Kirpan was removed. Baldeep explained that the Kirpan was a sacred item in her faith and she could not remove it; was it absolutely necessary to remove it in order to be examined? The nurse said that on health and safety grounds no patient should be carrying a weapon. Baldeep argued that if treatment was denied to her because she was wearing this sacred symbol, it was tantamount to religious discrimination.
The nurse seemed unsure about this and consulted her ward manager.