Restoring the health
- 2. • Nurses play major role in restoring health of individuals. So what are the ethical concepts supports this role? • advocacy, caring, cooperation and accountability
- 3. • The ethical obligation to restore health provides support for many innovative healthcare services throughout the world. It is by use of technology in healthcare. • E.g: Heart valves, hips joints and knee parts helped in improving lifestyle of patients. • The following case example demonstrates value conflicts involved in restoring mental health to a patient living in unfamiliar cultural and religious belief systems.
- 4. Case example: Restoring health to a patient with a potential psychiatric illness • Kirsten Schmidt is providing maternal/child healthcare in a country experiencing civil war. She is part of a multi-nation, emergency healthcare effort. Although she anticipated many cultural, religious and social differences in the way that healthcare is provided in this country, she finds it difficult to accept the compliant role of women in this society. She is particularly concerned about Mrs. Ahmed, a young mother with three small daughters who recently visited the health clinic for treatment of severe diarrhea in her youngest child. • Mrs. Ahmed was born and educated in a western country. After completing her studies, she married Mr. Ahmed, a Muslim, and returned with him to his country. A few months later, civil war broke out in their country and Mrs. Ahmed lost all contact with her western friends and relatives.
- 5. • When Ms. Schmidt first met Mrs. Ahmed, she was troubled by the young mother's frail (weak), withdrawn appearance. After several visits, Ms. Schmidt begins to suspect that the intelligent young woman is suffering from mental illness (severe depression). Being confined at home with the children , not entirely accepted by her husband's family, and limited (according to her husband’s cultural and religious beliefs) in her opportunity to socialize with others outside the family, all contribute to her feelings of extreme loneliness and fear. In her husband’s family, Mrs. Ahmed must maintain a compliant role in keeping with her society’s beliefs and teach her own daughters to do the same. Mrs. Ahmed confides that she fears that she will never again see her native country or her parents or siblings. From this scenario what are the problems with mrs.Ahmed?
- 6. The problems are: • When Ms. Schmidt first met Mrs. Ahmed, she was troubled by the young mother's frail (weak), withdrawn appearance. After several visits, Ms. Schmidt begins to suspect that the intelligent young woman is suffering from mental illness (severe depression). Being confined at home with the children , not entirely accepted by her husband's family, and limited (according to her husband’s cultural and religious beliefs) in her opportunity to socialize with others outside the family, all contribute to her feelings of extreme loneliness and fear. In her husband’s family, Mrs. Ahmed must maintain a compliant role in keeping with her society’s beliefs and teach her own daughters to do the same. Mrs. Ahmed confides that she fears that she will never again see her native country or her parents or siblings.
- 7. What is the significance of the values involved? Is there any difference in the values of parities involved? • The values held by the parties in this situation vary widely. Mrs. Ahmed, Mr. Ahmed, his family members and Ms. Schmidt all has different belief systems and values, each of which holds important meanings for each individual. • A nurse is usually obligated to treat illness and restore health in any patient under her care. When carrying out this responsibility means confronting deeply held cultural and social values and beliefs.
- 8. • There is no simple way to restore Mrs Ahmed's mental health without creating conflict for the nurse and for Mrs. Ahmed. A culturally informed, appropriate and responsive approach to nursing care delivery can be helpful.
- 9. What should be done? 1. Ms. Schmidt has an obligation to be truthful with the husband and should faithfully attempt to enlist the husband's help in caring for Mrs. Ahmed 2. Culturally relevant measures should be employed to help treat his wife's mental health problems, the husband and/or his family could be an important resource in discovering what these measures might be.
- 10. Con’ What should be done? • the nurse to clearly communicate her observations to the patient's husband and family • Understanding and respect for the culture of the Ahmed’s family are also important to the success of any plan that might be initiated to prevent further deterioration of Mrs. Ahmed's mental health.
- 11. What should be done? • The nurse's obligation to restore health must be carried out with respect for the cultural, religious and social values of the patient and his or her family unit • Last, Ms. Schmidt should recommend out- patient psychiatric follow-up to keep Mrs. Ahmed in touch with the healthcare system outside of the family group.