I think the emphasis on care is especially important in this chapter about health care communication. The book points out that "health care communication ethics seeks to protect and promote care - care is the communicative action or practice that links the good of responsiveness to the Other" (199). The authors continue to write about how when people have fallen ill they are vulnerable and it is important to cater to the needs of each individual patient. I like how they say health care communication ethics should not become a technique that does not work with each individual.
I have had a few surgeries in my life and have seen varying degrees of attention to care. With one of my doctors he was a specialized surgeon and it did not seem as though patient care was at the forefront of his mind. I have heard this is common with surgeons as their main focus really should be on the ability to successfully complete a surgery and there are others, perhaps nurses or general physicians, who spend more time with conscious patients. The common interaction with patients seems to make a large impact on the way they deal with individuals seeking help. My surgeon didn't need to interact with me much overall and a good amount of the time we did spend together I was unconscious on the table. I think this goes to show how even within the health care field, different positions can mean different amounts of interaction with patients and therefore different levels of care.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Chapter 11
In chapter 11, the idea of health care communication ethics is discussed. This was one of the chapters that I was most interested in reading, as I feel there are very strict codes of ethics that should be followed in the health care industry. The part of the textbook that I found to be very telling about the health care industry was the idea of responsiveness. The book states, "The key for a health care provider, the patient, and the family is responsiveness" (195). This is very important to think about with the fact that health shapes the life we live, and accordingly need to make responses and adapt to these ever changing circumstances.
In my own life, I have seen the struggle with cancer within close family. The whole key to this dilemma was the response that these friends took. When learning about receiving the cancer, the response taken was to make sure to follow the treatment plan. Throughout the time battling cancer, the treatment plan changed several times as the cancer had also changed. These responses are important as the act in a way that betters the good of the health care communication ethics.
In my own life, I have seen the struggle with cancer within close family. The whole key to this dilemma was the response that these friends took. When learning about receiving the cancer, the response taken was to make sure to follow the treatment plan. Throughout the time battling cancer, the treatment plan changed several times as the cancer had also changed. These responses are important as the act in a way that betters the good of the health care communication ethics.
Chapter 11
Even though health care communication is not in my daily life, I turn to them when situations become to hard to handle. In order for a health care professional to speak effectively they must use the ideas from page 198 "for all of us when existence simply reminds us that in such moments our final freedom rests with how we respond" They not only take care of people physically, but they support patients and grieving family members mentally with their communication skills. They value the multiplicity of goods that each patient values.
Recently, I was not sasitfied with the way a health care provider told my family of the condition of my grandmother. She lives in a very expensive assisted living home that caters to her wellbeing most times of the day. She has had Alzheimer's for 13 years and living productively is hard for her. One day a worker informed my aunt that she was not doing good at all and that it her death would happen very soon.That really struck an emotional nerve with our family and we found ourselves trying to find the resources to help. After testing we found out that nothing was wrong and that ultimately she was very happy. This was years ago and it was pretty discerning that she essentially diagnosed my grandmother without any knowledge or proof Within the situation. She did not value the final freedom response of healthcare providers. Her negative response afterwards was not helpful and hopefully she could review the healthcare communication ethics.
Chapter 11
Chapter 11 discusses the topic of health care communication ethics. Health care communication includes patient to professional interactions or institutional concerns. The underlying Good that is being promoted is overall public health(193). The promotion of health can be a difficult task, but it is important to maintain the public or patient's view on the institution. Doctors are influencing physical health, but also influence mental health. The public/patient can be negatively affected by negative news or wording when dealing with health issues. It is important for doctors to keep the patients or public positive so their mental health isn't negatively affected. Trust is also a communication ethic that is important in health care. There is a much better relationship between doctor and patient/public when each can be trusted.
Health care communication ethics illustrates why a family doctor is beneficial. I had a family doctor growing up through high school. The doctor was the same as my parents and they had me see the same one. My parents never had an issue and trusted this doctor. Living in a small town, we were able to communicate with our doctor in public as well. This helped build trust and a friendly relationship. In turn, it was easy to tell that this doctor was looking out for our best of health, just as a friend would. We trust our doctor, and in return, generally trust the health care institution.
Health care communication ethics illustrates why a family doctor is beneficial. I had a family doctor growing up through high school. The doctor was the same as my parents and they had me see the same one. My parents never had an issue and trusted this doctor. Living in a small town, we were able to communicate with our doctor in public as well. This helped build trust and a friendly relationship. In turn, it was easy to tell that this doctor was looking out for our best of health, just as a friend would. We trust our doctor, and in return, generally trust the health care institution.
Chapter 11
One thing I found very interesting about health care communication ethics was the difference between hope and optimism. I always thought of these concepts as the same, but this book elaborates a lot on how they are different which I found very interesting. I always strive to be as optimistic as possible but this book really sheds light on why that sometimes is not good. "the demand of optimism is expectation"(192). With constantly having high expectations for any aspect of life you end up being disappointed some of the time when you do not reach those expectations. With this being said sometimes it is better to have hope where you are hoping for the best, but also preparing for the worst.
One memory that stuck in my mind when reading this chapter was my uncle. He passed away from cancer about 8 years ago. "Optimism fades when faced with the reality that life does not grant one's demand"(192). Early on in his process of overcoming this disease I was very optimistic about what the future would hold for my uncle and that he would make a full recovery. When things started to turn for the worst, my optimism started to fade and was met with the harsh reality of the situation and that my expectations were not going to be met. After this I started to become more hopeful of the situation, hoping and praying for the best but also preparing for the worst.
When discussing hope, responsiveness was another topic that was very important. It's good to take care of yourself and your health but its also important to take care of others and be responsive to their needs. An important quality that makes us human is empathy towards one another. When helping others to the best of your ability it allows you to be more hopeful towards the situation that is happening. One thing I do as an example for responsiveness is asking my friends how they are doing and giving good advice to help them in their time of need whether it be small or big things affecting their life.
One memory that stuck in my mind when reading this chapter was my uncle. He passed away from cancer about 8 years ago. "Optimism fades when faced with the reality that life does not grant one's demand"(192). Early on in his process of overcoming this disease I was very optimistic about what the future would hold for my uncle and that he would make a full recovery. When things started to turn for the worst, my optimism started to fade and was met with the harsh reality of the situation and that my expectations were not going to be met. After this I started to become more hopeful of the situation, hoping and praying for the best but also preparing for the worst.
When discussing hope, responsiveness was another topic that was very important. It's good to take care of yourself and your health but its also important to take care of others and be responsive to their needs. An important quality that makes us human is empathy towards one another. When helping others to the best of your ability it allows you to be more hopeful towards the situation that is happening. One thing I do as an example for responsiveness is asking my friends how they are doing and giving good advice to help them in their time of need whether it be small or big things affecting their life.
Health care
Health care communication ethics is "the study of communication practices within the broad domain of health care, from patient/professional interaction to institutional communication questions about health" (192). In other words, health care communication is looking at how people in the medical field navigate and interact with people in the workplace and clients. The main point of the health care system is to provide assistance or care to someone in need. However, depending on the culture, the health care system can be very different amongst different groups of people. In addition, care has a variety of meanings and many people will view what it means to be caring differently. In other words, culture is a big factor when looking at health care systems and why they are set up a certain way.
Next, with the variety of health care systems in the world, the variations of what care is are endless. For example, in a lot of European countries, a universal health care system is a popular system that seems to work well. However, in the U.S. the health care system is set up much differently and people have to pay for health insurance or have a very big bill. When one considers all the cultural factors would it be possible for the U.S. to have a universal health care system like Europe? Typically speaking, in the U.S. people define care as providing some form of assistance to another person. However, a lot of people are against a universal health care system because they don't want taxes to go up. It is ironic that people see money as something that is more important than someone's health and possibly their own health. When looking at American culture, money is an important and valuable aspect that many people see as a status symbol. Hence, the characteristics of the U.S. culture display why the health care system is the way it is, not eliminating the fact that it could change. Finally, culture is a large factor that contributes to health care systems along with peoples values within that culture. The important thing to remember is that a lot can be learned by studying other cultures and a lot of knowledge can be gained.
Next, with the variety of health care systems in the world, the variations of what care is are endless. For example, in a lot of European countries, a universal health care system is a popular system that seems to work well. However, in the U.S. the health care system is set up much differently and people have to pay for health insurance or have a very big bill. When one considers all the cultural factors would it be possible for the U.S. to have a universal health care system like Europe? Typically speaking, in the U.S. people define care as providing some form of assistance to another person. However, a lot of people are against a universal health care system because they don't want taxes to go up. It is ironic that people see money as something that is more important than someone's health and possibly their own health. When looking at American culture, money is an important and valuable aspect that many people see as a status symbol. Hence, the characteristics of the U.S. culture display why the health care system is the way it is, not eliminating the fact that it could change. Finally, culture is a large factor that contributes to health care systems along with peoples values within that culture. The important thing to remember is that a lot can be learned by studying other cultures and a lot of knowledge can be gained.
Chapter 11 Health Care Communication Ethics
I lost a good friend almost one year ago to cancer. She suffered from "the monster" a nuero-blastoma brain cancer that was difficult to treat and even if successfully thwarted 99% of time reoccurred or too the patients life during treatment by slowly suffocating the brain. She was 49 when she died and she was a mom of 4, 2 boys and 2 girls.
The part of the book's chapter that spoke the most to me was the passage on Technique to Tenacity. The book spoke of the labor of care in the the middle of frustration, pain, fatigue and finding an engine that could do all of the care. That you have to find your "why".
That spoke to me the most, because on almost every one of my visits with Shelly she would ask me "Why I was here with her, and not with my own family?" At first I was offended, "I am here because you are my friend. I love you." She would respond with "Well you are my sister's friend first, not mine." Which was true, her sister Melissa is one of my closest friends in the world, and I only knew Shelly because of Melis.
Then when she would ask I would answer honestly, "I am only doing what I hope someone would do for me Shel." Which again was true, I am also a mom to 4, 2 boys and 2 girls, what made Shelly any different from me? Why her and not me? There wasn't answer that made sense.
The "tenacity of care" that Shelly's family developed was incredible, There was not going to ever be a sufficient answer to the why or how could this have happened, so we moved into care giving mode, They work on the why and care giving was balanced on the ultimate question of how? How will we live without her? How will the kids always know her love? How will we all as a group encourage her to go when the time comes and not be selfish with the desire for her to not leave, because all of us agreed that it was too soon.
The book spoke of "sometimes this sense of "why" comes from theories and ideas, but most often it comes from a human face that reminds us of the importance of finding the tenacity to meet the demands before us." Taking care of Shelly over 16 months and being there for the goodbye and farewell meant we needed tenacity, courage and honesty. Never once did we speak of events in the distant future and say things like "You will be there." Not one time did we speak of her in the past tense while she was still here.
The book speaks of health care communication ethics being a place where you are in the darkness and there seems no light yet, in the "just doing" you have a sense of health and hope that life could go on after the loss. I spent every weekend with Shelly and that light of feeling like we left nothing unsaid and we didn't focus on the inevitable and just enjoyed the day we had in front of us keeps me happy today, it was the outcome we expected with the communication that was needed to make life livable again.
The part of the book's chapter that spoke the most to me was the passage on Technique to Tenacity. The book spoke of the labor of care in the the middle of frustration, pain, fatigue and finding an engine that could do all of the care. That you have to find your "why".
That spoke to me the most, because on almost every one of my visits with Shelly she would ask me "Why I was here with her, and not with my own family?" At first I was offended, "I am here because you are my friend. I love you." She would respond with "Well you are my sister's friend first, not mine." Which was true, her sister Melissa is one of my closest friends in the world, and I only knew Shelly because of Melis.
Then when she would ask I would answer honestly, "I am only doing what I hope someone would do for me Shel." Which again was true, I am also a mom to 4, 2 boys and 2 girls, what made Shelly any different from me? Why her and not me? There wasn't answer that made sense.
The "tenacity of care" that Shelly's family developed was incredible, There was not going to ever be a sufficient answer to the why or how could this have happened, so we moved into care giving mode, They work on the why and care giving was balanced on the ultimate question of how? How will we live without her? How will the kids always know her love? How will we all as a group encourage her to go when the time comes and not be selfish with the desire for her to not leave, because all of us agreed that it was too soon.
The book spoke of "sometimes this sense of "why" comes from theories and ideas, but most often it comes from a human face that reminds us of the importance of finding the tenacity to meet the demands before us." Taking care of Shelly over 16 months and being there for the goodbye and farewell meant we needed tenacity, courage and honesty. Never once did we speak of events in the distant future and say things like "You will be there." Not one time did we speak of her in the past tense while she was still here.
The book speaks of health care communication ethics being a place where you are in the darkness and there seems no light yet, in the "just doing" you have a sense of health and hope that life could go on after the loss. I spent every weekend with Shelly and that light of feeling like we left nothing unsaid and we didn't focus on the inevitable and just enjoyed the day we had in front of us keeps me happy today, it was the outcome we expected with the communication that was needed to make life livable again.
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