Case Study Approaches to Ethical Dilemas
Case Study Approaches to Ethical Dilemmas
LaDonna Landry
BSHS 335
January 12, 2015
Nicole Zmuda
Case Study Approaches to Ethical Dilemmas
The case study I chose is that of six-year-old Tavion Robinson who was taken to Methodist Hospital by his father for a broken arm and abrasions. There were a couple of things in this case that could insinuate that the broken arm and abrasions were not an accident. The father being hesitant to leave Tavion alone with hospital staff was the first red flag that something could be wrong. Secondly, Mr. Robinson’s request that he be notified prior to releasing Tavion’s records to anyone. Thirdly, informing the Emergency Department that Tavion’s parents are divorced and that the mother the non-custodial parent may not access Tavion’s records without his consent. In retrospect not leaving him alone with staff could be the actions of very concerned father, releasing his information to just anyone is also understandable to protect his son’s privacy but to not allow the mother to access his records without his consent sends up a red flag immediately.
When asked by the triage nurse how Tavion sustained his injuries the father informed the nurse that he fell from the jungle gym in the park. When Tavion was taken to the x-ray room his father was not allowed and the staff took the time to question Tavion about what happened in which he verified his father’s explanation. Although Tavion and his father gave the same story there seemed to be some inconsistencies due to the abrasions being clean and they would not have been if he truly fallen from the jungle gym and brought in right afterwards. Due to there still being some inconsistencies in the story to the hospital staff they also question Tavion about ever being afraid of being hurt by anyone at home while he was in the x-ray room in which he denied abuse or fear of being abused.
The father request that the medical records not be released to anyone unless he was
LaDonna Landry
BSHS 335
January 12, 2015
Nicole Zmuda
Case Study Approaches to Ethical Dilemmas
The case study I chose is that of six-year-old Tavion Robinson who was taken to Methodist Hospital by his father for a broken arm and abrasions. There were a couple of things in this case that could insinuate that the broken arm and abrasions were not an accident. The father being hesitant to leave Tavion alone with hospital staff was the first red flag that something could be wrong. Secondly, Mr. Robinson’s request that he be notified prior to releasing Tavion’s records to anyone. Thirdly, informing the Emergency Department that Tavion’s parents are divorced and that the mother the non-custodial parent may not access Tavion’s records without his consent. In retrospect not leaving him alone with staff could be the actions of very concerned father, releasing his information to just anyone is also understandable to protect his son’s privacy but to not allow the mother to access his records without his consent sends up a red flag immediately.
When asked by the triage nurse how Tavion sustained his injuries the father informed the nurse that he fell from the jungle gym in the park. When Tavion was taken to the x-ray room his father was not allowed and the staff took the time to question Tavion about what happened in which he verified his father’s explanation. Although Tavion and his father gave the same story there seemed to be some inconsistencies due to the abrasions being clean and they would not have been if he truly fallen from the jungle gym and brought in right afterwards. Due to there still being some inconsistencies in the story to the hospital staff they also question Tavion about ever being afraid of being hurt by anyone at home while he was in the x-ray room in which he denied abuse or fear of being abused.
The father request that the medical records not be released to anyone unless he was
References: Grebner, L. A. (2009). Ethics case studies for health information management. Clifton Park, NY: Cengage.