Question

A patient is brought into the emergency department by her son. She is suffering from Alzheimer’s dementia and is not oriented to her surroundings or family. Her son gives a history that indicates his mother fell down the stairs but when she is examined , physical clues reveal a number of older bruises on her body, and she also exhibits a general apprehension and apparent fear of any of the male staff speaking to her or touching her .

Based on legal and ethical issues of health professions

1. What should be done to establish whether or not this is a true case of abuse ?

2.What evidence should be gathered ?

3.What is ethical and legal responsibility of the providers and healthcare workers in this situation?

Answer 1

1. ANS:

Alzheimers: It is a disease in which the patient lost his memory and have other mental problems. Alzheimer is a brain disease that cause memory loss and decline in the thinking and reasoning skills. This disease cause difficulty in concentrating and thinking. People suffering from this disease may feel depression, irritability, changes in sleeping habits and mood swings.

Facts: A son took his mother (patient)tothe emergency department of a hospital. The mother is suffering from Alzheimers dementia. she is not oriented toward her family and surroundings. Her son tells the doctor that in past she fell from the stairs. But when the doctors examined per it was found that there are several old bruises on her body. She is afraid of any male person in the staff of the hospital. she has apprehension and fear that any of the male staff members talking to her or touching her.

2. ANS: evidence should be gathered

The evidence that supports the abuse of the patient is:

1. The doctor must consider the several old bruises that have been found at the body of the patient and see if they arise from any injury or due to any mud of assault

2. Also, the physician should consider that she actually has apprehension and fear that any of the male staff members taking to her or touching her. If it is affirmative then, it can be considered that the patient has wfinessed or experienced the sexual abuse at her workplace.

Thus, above mentioned are the evidence that reflects that the patient was abused.

3. ANS: Ethical and legal responsibility:

As the physician found old bruises on the body of the patent, therefore, in order to see If case is of true abuse or not the physician must report the case to the police so that they can investigate the surroundings of the patient to see if she was abused or not.

Elder Abuse: The older American Act (OAA) of 1987 was established in order to protect the adults who are more than 60 years of age from neglect, abuse, exploitation, abandonment. As per the act above mentioned acts were declared offenses in a number of states. The goal of the act is to protect the elders in the situations in which they are under the care of others or are dependent.