According to an article written in The Telegraph, doctors, nurses, and health carers will now face legal punishment for not taking care of or considering the well-being and dignity of the elderly (Kirkup & Smith, 2012). The law is supposed to help ensure that health care workers have the right attitude in mind when they take care of the elderly (Kirkup & Smith, 2012).
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| Taken from http://images.sciencedaily.com/2008/04/080416110114-large.jpg |
I find this both a moral and ethical decision on the government's part, one that I fully support. It is wrong and unjust to deny particular patients of interest simply based on the grounds of their age. As a healthcare practitioner, it is not my job to dictate who I think is worthy of any help I can offer. It is my job as a nurse or healthcare provider to ensure that those who need medical help and attention receive that medical help or attention. I was not even aware that something like this could even happen to anyone. What's next: are doctors going to start denying care for patients that are black, gay, or have differing political views? At this rate, there will always be a reason to make someone ineligible for something if you are in power and do not like them (whomever them may be) enough. This really has me shocked. In my culture, the elderly are looked up to and respected, most times even revered. But it seems like in the U.S. (with reported elderly abuse in nursing homes) and now also in Britain that the elderly are not nearly as respected as I was brought up to respect them. Maybe I will look more into the matter.
Reference:
Kirkup, J., & Smith, R. (2012, June 11). Doctors face ban on denying treatment to elderly. The Telegraph. Retrieved June 17, 2012 from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9325667/Doctors-face-ban-on-denying-treatment-to-elderly.html
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