PRESENTATION OF RELEVANT FACTS AND RELIABLE EVIDENCE
This case is about the patient who was admitted for elective induction at thirty seven (37) weeks gestation. This is contractor to recently implemented policy that prohibits admission of pregnant women for elective induction prior to thirty nine (39) weeks of gestation. This policy regarding elective induction was passed through a national research-based campaign for purposes of taking care of both the health of the women and babies. Dr. K is therefore faced with the dilemma for admitting a pregnant mother at 37 weeks gestation. These campaigns against early deliveries through elective induction were basically meant to reduce complications both during and after delivery of the babies as well as improving the outcomes of the new born babies.
Dr K as a foundation healthcare unit that mainly deals with admission of pregnant mothers for delivery services especially the C- Section and the elective induction. He strongly opposed the policy to prohibit elective induction before thirty nine weeks gestation because it could affect his business greatly therefore may consider high chances of making losses due to the fact his healthcare unit mainly deals with cases relating to elective induction and C-Section. K’s healthcare unit also deals with the affluent members of the society who prefers these kinds of delivery practices due to their lifestyles.
In this case, it is stated that Dr. K have been admitting patients with specified medical conditions with regard to elective induction. He threatened to continue with his practice despite the policy instituted by the research-based campaign against elective induction before the gestation of thirty seven (37) weeks is attained by the pregnant mothers. Many nurses in the healthcare unit have found that many of the cases received requested for elective induction have a lot of exaggerations in order to convince the physicians to accept such elective induction. Most of the documented cases relating to medically directed medications are false and biased.
One of the most recent cases where Dr. K is with was faced with is this of a woman being admitted at a gestation of 37 weeks. This was controversial because the lady is requesting for an elective induction due to the reason that she wants to deliver in the presence of his husband before he flies to the overseas countries as indicate din the interview. The medical reason in the records documented showed that the woman was experiencing high blood pressure which was just a mere false that was used as an escape-goat for elective induction as a measure of personal pleasure and desires.
The practical problem in this case is the fact that the elective induction has raised concerns due to the problems associated with it in relation to the mother and the baby both during delivery and after delivery. The outcomes of the elective induction varies with the medical conditions of the patient therefore it s reasonable and sensible both morally and ethically to take consideration of the outcomes in order to protect the lives of both the child and the mother.
In this case a contradiction arose because the information document in the medical records contradicts that presented in the interview. The lady admitted for elective induction at the a gestation of 37 weeks was basically for reasons of pleasure and personal satisfaction and it had nothing to do with her health or medical conditions. It is clearly indicated in the interview that she wanted her husband to be present during her delivery. It is against the ethical code of conduct to record false information in the medical records since it will compromise the integrity of the whole medical service or healthcare unit. The integrity of the medical officers is questionable for documenting false information. This recorded information may be used in future in treating the patient concerned leading to complications or even death.
In relation to medical ethics, it is wrong to conduct such an operation of elective induction at the gestation of thirty seven (37) weeks because it may lead to complications during delivery or even after delivery. The child may face many complications especially if the baby is premature. This therefore may even lead to perpetual medical difficulties in the life of the child. The mother may also face challenges due to delayed labor pains therefore taking a longer time than expected in the induction process. It is therefore unethical to perform an elective induction before the 39 weeks gestation is attained because it will risk the life of the mother as well as that of the baby. This elective induction is only reasonable and ethical to perform if the pregnant woman is in danger due to medical difficulties and complications which may occur if the delivery is not induced.
ANALYSIS & PRIMARY ARGUMENT
Elective induction before the gestation period of thirty nine (39) weeks is attained may result in the labor pains taking long time making more discomforts to the woman than expected. This may worsen the conditions leading to suffering and distress therefore making elective induction only necessary under unavoidable circumstances. It is therefore unethical to carry out the elective in this case because the reason is not reasonable to justify the induction.
I strongly oppose the elective induction under these conditions because it is based on false information which may result in negative consequences towards the health of both the child and the woman. Their lives should therefore be given priority instead of putting much focus on the presence of the husband during the time of delivery. The justification in the records is not enough to support the argument for elective induction. The benefits associated with the presence of the husband are not enough to make the elective induction valid in this case.
COUNTER-ARGUMENTS
The lady requesting for an elective induction was not suffering from any pain or depression to warrant this to be taken into consideration. The lady is proposing for this just for personal reasons but not medical complications. It is rightful for the lady to too demand such an elective induction but the gestation period of 37 weeks is against the policy proposed by the research-based campaigns therefore renders it invalid and unethical to perform it. The issue of contradiction in the medical records and the interview conducted raises doubts with regard to the integrity of the medical practitioners who documented the information.
OPTIONS FOR ACTION The appropriate measure to be taken with regard to this case is that the elective induction should not be performed. The elective induction is therefore not reasonable because it may result in more serious difficulties or complications. The medical professionals responsible for the false records raise the issue of integrity therefore held responsible for their actions and should face the legal and ethical consequences of their practice.
References
Hoekman-Teach, S. (2006). The phenomenon of elective induction of labor: Labor and delivery nurses' ethical perceptions.
Thompson, I. E. (2006). Nursing ethics. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
Fry, S. T., & Veatch, R. M. (2006). Case studies in nursing ethics. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
