Introduction
Medical sterilization refers to any birth control methods that intentionally make a person unable to reproduce. They can be surgical or non-surgical and can be performed on both males and females, and they are intended to be permanent. Sterilization can be done in various ways, but the common one is vasectomy for men and tubal ligation for women. These methods can negatively impact general health, especially ectopic gestation during pregnancies. This document examines the effects of sterilization among affected victims and its implication in the health discipline.
A story of Doreen Befus is presented where she was sterilized when to avoid her from getting mentally challenged children. She later discovered that it was wrong, but she chose not to sue the government since, during that time, it was legal (Dyck, 2020). Patients who had no control over their bodies were required by law to be sterilized (Maxera, 2021). Additionally, patients who were in training schools would also follow the same procedure since they had no representative. Doreen was therefore labeled as a result of this act lowering her self-esteem.
This story tells us the importance of seeing beyond diagnostic labels by giving a greater emphasis on patient care. Patients should be involved in decision-making, especially when alternative forms of treatment are to be adopted. By doing this, they are less likely to fall victim to abuse, lowering their self-esteem levels. Further, the client’s voice in relation to the outcome is taken seriously, especially by policymakers and health caregivers.
Consequences of Lack of Consideration of Patients’ Autonomy
A professional health practice requires taking into consideration of the individual’s agency and autonomy. Failure to do so can lead to consequences such as poor decision-making in health settings by nurses when the doctors are absent. This applies mainly in emergency cases where immediate lifesaving actions must be taken without much interrogation. Medical errors are likely to occur in interpreting medical results leading to wrong prescriptions. Instruments used in the laboratory need accuracy and controlled setups. Failure to follow the standard set guidelines can lead to a wrong diagnosis.
Adoption of new technological advancements to improve patient care becomes a challenge lowering the quality of services offered. The benefits of involving the use of the internet in treatment plans are uncountable. The patients’ medical histories and records can be stored online for easy retrieval (Bolcato et al., 2021). Creating portals where doctors can interact with the sick, even from their homes, makes the diagnosis process easier. The affected can monitor their health on their own and adopt better lifestyles. They can also consult on the possible medications which they can take when the existing ones fail. This saves them time and exposes them to the current technology, which is critical in eliminating illiteracy.
Victims were isolated in an institution where they received training and were further sterilized. They adjusted to the laws and procedures by taking in the guidelines given, and these made them fit into the system. Befus and other victims came to terms with their own reproductive terms by working as nannies and caregivers. Through this task, they were able to socialize with children and gained skills of living in a society with other people. Positive interactions with all members of society shape character and make people fit into society. While in the training school, they adjusted to their situations and learned how to sustain families. Most of them returned to everyday established habits of sex delinquency.
Importance of History of Medicine, Science, and Law
Patients report a variety of health issues that require medical attention to improve their current situations. The history of medicine illustrates how various societies have changed their views and approach to diseases. In most cases, the ancient people believed more in medical herbs in treatments compared to prescribed medicines (Kasiri, 2022). Drugs help in preventing the spread of disease, which may lead to affecting the other body organs which might be healthy. They function by reducing the harm which is likely to result if the medicines are not taken.
Additionally, they help in the treatment and improvement of mental health disorders. Some individuals may develop depression after some situation which may worsen into mental disorders. Situations such as the death of loved ones, divorce, and the inability to meet basic needs contribute to stress. To restore their conditions, doctors prescribe antidepressants that calm the victims to better states. Failure to impose treatments can lead to more advanced scenarios that may become more serious and permanent.
Science also plays a significant role in healthcare by applying already-invented research methodologies. For doctors to make a diagnosis, they depend on laboratory results that seek to identify the cause of a particular dysfunction. Apparatus used work on scientific principles to come out with valid outcomes. Science breaks the molecular mechanism of any disease and leads to the development of drugs that can fight them.
Most institutions where the sterilization victims are taken do not follow human rights. This is because they perform the operations without the consent of the individual. This is an indication of a violation of their rights despite being mentally challenged. Patients should be given freedom of expression and choice to give out their opinions. They should be allowed to dictate the steps which can be taken to improve their health. Nurses should only offer guidance on possible beneficial choices.
The concept of eugenics involves suggested ways of arranging reproduction within any human population to increase the chances of inheritable characteristics. Medical professionals in their field of practice must be controlled by the experienced authority and power they possess. Failure to which can lead to an unhealthy working environment where patients are mistreated. In most scenarios, poor communication skills are involved making the patients fear expressing themselves. Collaboration among the various health personnel reduces, leading to poor patient care services. For instance, when nurses fail to work with doctors, patients may worsen since the attention is incomplete.
Higher levels of absenteeism from the workplace as some of the workers may feel superior to others. For instance, the managers may fail to report since they know that nobody has permission to question them. This will affect the whole management in general, and finally, the set objectives will not be achieved. Compromised cases of patient safety are likely to be reported since they are involved in risky actions while receiving treatments. Medical surgeries mostly require high levels of keenness and professionalism.
Conclusion
In conclusion, nurses and doctors are the primary healthcare givers in the medical profession. They should therefore be equipped with the necessary skills to handle patients with diverse needs. In order to minimize medical errors, they should uphold higher levels of professionalism. Medical sterilization can lead to permanent infertility as the method involves hinders the normal functioning of the reproductive organs. However, patients who fail as victims must be consulted before they are exposed. This ensures the protection of universal human rights for equality.
References
Bolcato, M., Shander, A., Isbister, J., Trentino, K., Russo, M., Rodriguez, D., & Aprile, A. (2021). Physician autonomy and patient rights: Lessons from an enforced blood transfusion and the role of patient blood management. Vox Sanguinis, 116(10), 1023-1030. Web.
Dyck, E. (2020). Doing history that matters: Going public and activating voices as a form of historical activism. Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 57(1), 75-86. Web.
Kasiri, M. (2022). The impact of archaism discourse on Iranian medical historiography from the Achaemenid Period. Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine. Web.
Maxera, M. (2021). Enabling restrictions. Osiris, 36, 181-199. Web.