Category / Access to Care / Case Studies / Vulnerable Populations
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![Chain link fence representing barriers to healthcare.]()
Case Study: Healthcare Insurance Barriers
Healthcare insurance barriers cause strife for the patient, clinicians, and hospital when Ms. Grayson, a 44-year-old woman, is diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and has no health insurance. Center for Practical Bioethics.
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Case Study: Pregnancy Termination
This pregnancy termination clinical ethics case study regards a 32-year-old patient presenting with a likely nonviable pregnancy at 10 weeks gestation raises critical questions about patient autonomy, informed consent, and physician paternalism when her OB/GYN refuses to prescribe termination medication pending a follow-up scan. Center for Practical Bioethics.
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Case Study: Medicaid Work Requirements
Medical work requirements prevent the patient with early-stage breast cancer to qualify for Medicaid while caring for her father. Center for Practical Bioethics.
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Case Study: Medical Team Disagrees
Medical team members believe that the primary attending may be prolonging Mr. Blake’s death rather than saving his life and allowing his suffering to continue. Center for Practical Bioethics.
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Case Study: When Vaccination Status Leads to Conflict
Bioethics case study on parents reacting defensively when doctors ask about the child’s vaccination status. Physicians question their response to anti-vax parents. Published by the Center for Practical Bioethics.
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Case Study: Starting ECMO Without Consent
Bioethics case study on starting ECMO without consent. Starting ECMO: Husband Requests Intervention for Wife Without Her Consent The patient’s husband requests ECMO without her consent. Center for Practical Bioethics
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Case Study: Undocumented Patient Relies on Hospital ED
Bioethics case study on undocumented patients denied care. Mr. Ramirez is a 44-year-old male with multiple medical conditions, including cirrhosis of the liver and acute kidney failure. He has expressed that outpatient dialysis would indeed be his preference, but due to his undocumented status, accessing it is not an option.
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![One bird figurine is rejecting the other bird figurine.]()
Case Study: COPD Patient Rejects Science on Smoking
Bioethics case study on patients rejecting science. Bonnie, the patient, stated that she does not believe smoking causes health problems, noting that her father was a lifelong smoker who smoked until the day he died at the age of 94, without any apparent smoking-related illnesses. The medical team is uncertain how to proceed with treatment, and an ethics consult has been requested. Center for Practical Bioethics
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![Hospital entrance automatic doors.]()
Case Study: Patient Discharge Issues
Bioethics case study on patient discharge issues. Mr. Stone has a history of combative or noncompliant behavior before hospitalization. Since hospitalized, Mr. Stone has regularly taken his medications and cooperated with staff. But the staff is having difficulty discharging him due to his previous behavior.
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Bioethics Case Study – Justice for Undocumented Patients
Bioethics case study on undocumented patients in VIDEO and PRINT. This case study in clinical ethics discusses ‘When What Is Right ≠ What Is Best’ regarding justice for undocumented patients. Published by the Center for Practical Bioethics.
