This I Believe

Rights of patients and physicians

1. Patient autonomy (the right to decide for one's self), truth-telling, and
confidentiality
I think that we all have the right to decide what is right or wrong when it comes to our
own care. That being said I do also believe that the person making those decisions
should be of sound and clear mind as to understand the options and consequences
behind the choices. I honestly am not sure why I believe this but I think its something
that is just base line human rights, the right to our own care. The right to say no to a
procedure that we don’t understand or don’t feel is necessary. Its what we all look
forward to in a way as we are becoming adults, making our own decisions and being
able to say no or yes to things.
2. Medical research ethics and informed consent
I think that medical research ethics stand right along side patient autonomy. Those that
are part of the test should have the right to back out if there are unforeseen reactions. I
have heard of stories about companies using prisoners as test subjects and treating
them badly because they thought that they could, because they were inmates. They are
human just like the rest of us and there for have the right to say no. Past that I’m not
sure where that belief comes from but I still feel like it is a valid reason to stand by it.
Controls
3. Genetic control (refers to gene editing)
I’ve recently learned about CRISPR and what they are finding it can do. It is a fine gray
line to me. On one hand it’s fascinating and could be the start to curing cancer. While on
the other hand it could be taken to far and we could be the movie Gattaca. I have a hard
time picking a clear stance on this because I’ve lost family to cancer and genetic
disorders. I think for personal reason I lean more towards being for it rather then against
it.
4. Reproductive assistance (egg and sperm donation, assisted reproductive
techniques)
Very much for this one, again for more personal reasons. My family caries a genetic
disorder for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and my niece passed away from complications
due to the disorder. If my husband caries the same gene and we wanted to have kids
we would have to have an out-side source or risk that the child have a high chance of
SMA. That reason along with those that are infertile are a very strong reason that I
stand with egg and sperm donations and reproductive assistance.

Terminations
 5. Abortion
I don’t have close ties with this one but I am pro choice. It goes back to having the right
to say no or yes when it comes to your own care. There is a lot that happens with
having a child, mentally, physically and financially and I think that women should have
the right to say no. I do however agree with having a point to which you no longer have
the option of abortion. At that point adoption is the best option. I believe that cut off is
some where around the mark of 22 weeks. If I remember correctly from what I have
heard past that time frame it can be dangerous to the woman.
6. Treating or terminating impaired infants (infants who have been born)
This one its up to the parents, and it would vary case by case. My niece that I
mentioned earlier, they said she wouldn’t live past 2 but she lived 8 years before
passing away. I think we have all heard the “miracle” stories but those don’t happen
often. This one I don’t have a firm stance on but I think that parents should be well
educated about the chances. And what life could look like if they do or if they don’t. I
think its important for them to know that if you do this here is why the quality of life could
be for you and the child and a view of the opposite. Non treatment isn’t always
immediate death so giving them that picture I think would be important to.
7. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
I’ve got a little bit of a tie to this one, my dad researched it at one point before he
passed away from cancer. I don’t remember his stance on it but for me personally I
think it would be a blessing to have a say of when and how you’re going to go if you are
terminally ill. I’ve talked to my husband about it and he agrees that if either of us got
cancer and its inoperable we would move to a state where its legal and make a plan
from there. I think it again comes down to the individual having the choice of being able
to go safely and not wasting away.
 
Resources
8. Organ transplants and scarce medical resources
Organ donors I am all in for. I have that marked as a yes on my license. It’s something
that’s important. It can and does save lives. That being said I also understand the need
for family’s approval for organ donation if it wasn’t marked already. I think it’s something
that again is important to explain what happens from there and what good it can do if
they were to approve it as not every one understands how it works. So, in supporting
donors I also obviously support the transplants. The why of it I think comes down to
being able to help someone even though I’m no longer there.
9. Distributing health care (How it should be allocated based on age/status/ability to
pay)
So to me this sounds like free healthcare vs what we have now. I think for people that
are healthy and rarely have to go to the Dr either one is fine. Free health care would
save us as an individual money because both me and my husband are pretty healthy.
But because not every one we know is healthy it would be a different story for them. I
have a friend in Canada who was trying to get in to see her Dermatologist and it took
months to get the appointment. General checkups are fine but getting into any sort of
specialist takes a very long time. Seeing it from both sides its hard to say which side I
would stand on with this one really.

Challenges
10. Health care for women (unique challenges, responsibilities during pregnancy)
As a woman who hasn’t ever had a child, I don’t have a lot to say on that aspect. I think
regular checkups are important. Finding out that I do have breast cancer in my family
line mammograms are going to also become a very important part of regular checkups.
Apart from those parts of women’s health care, and possibly the multitude of check ups
that could be needed when pregnant I’m not sure what challenges you mean here.
11. Health care for minorities (inequalities in care, illegal immigrant health care)
I like to think that this isn’t a problem but from the past year and current events its
obvious that is not the case. I know unfortunately that not every one is treated equally
when they come in for care. My husband works at the U Hospital, he has had people
come in and just expect to be ill-treated and judged. I honestly don’t know much about
specifics but I think that immigrants deserve care but I don’t think they should get it all
for free.
12. Health care for and responsibilities of those with AIDS/HIV
I think it’s important to let someone know if you’re HIV positive. I mentioned before that
my husband works in a hospital, he’s a phlebotomist. There are horror stories of
accidents that have happened and then the person saying oh yeah, I’m HIV positive.
While yes you are trained to be careful and follow procedures with every patient
sometimes knowing that means that your extra careful. So yes they still deserve the
same care but I think its important for the safety of others that they let people know in
healthcare settings.