Exeter Symposium (Part 12)
Posted on 04 Mar 2016 @ 8:37am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Anthony Duval & Petty Officer 3rd Class Veri RN
Edited on on 04 Mar 2016 @ 8:41am
1,755 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: Jupiter Station - Deck 75, Auditorium 4
Timeline: MD 82 - 1520 hrs
Previously, on Exeter Symposium (Part 11)...
"Thank you," Nevedno smiled with a gracious nod. Somehow he had not foreseen that the first question asked to him would actually have relieved his tension, but now here he was ready for more.
"Anyone else," he asked with only half-hope now that it would soon be over.
When no more questions came the unforgettable man breathed a heavy sigh of relief. It had gone better than expected, but there was still more cause to celebrate in the fact that he could get his feet off the stage than in actually making a decent presentation. He was finally free of his obligations for the time being. He moved off the stage to make way for the next presenter, no doubt someone who would assist in overshadowing his own presentation.
And Now, the Continuation...
[ON]
1520: Veri Presentation
"Hello! I'm Veri," the Deltan spoke animatedly as she stepped up to the podium and loaded her isoleniar chip into the holoprojector. "My speech is one of philosophical thought and introspect, as it pertains to a patient's cultural, social, and religious diversity within the medical practice."
Veri nervously went to pour some water, only she knocked the pitcher over and went red as she followed the rolling container. Why a lowly petty officer was asked to speak at one of these functions, she never knew. Luckily there was not a whole lot of laughter and she refilled the pitcher and poured her a glass of water so she could begin.
"Umm... Right! With the ever expanding Xenobiology additions to the Federation's medical sciences, so to does the cultural diversity constantly challenge itself with healthcare. Medical Law is labeled the main cause to our healthcare systems, due to the exact wording and definitions of said laws, plus the length of time it takes to amend said laws. That being said, the Code of Medical Ethics healthcare professionals live by, should be used to override Medical Law situations that can become volatile due to cultural, social, and religious clashes with Medical Law.
Let's start with defining these two terms..."
Veri semi hazardly managed to unhinge the massive monitor behind her as she went to turn around to look upon.
- Medical Ethics
- Medical Law
The Deltan cleared her throat as she began to elaborate, "Medical Ethics are a system of moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of medicine. Medical Law is the branch of medicine that deals with the legal application of medical knowledge, practiced in a government-approved manner.
Medical Law tells us how we should help others. Medical Ethics gives us the moral understanding of why and when we help people."
Veri looked down to her podium and switched on the slideshow on the monitor behind her. “Now that we understand the terminology, we shall discuss how Medical Law hinders our medical practice due to it's lack of understanding diverse peoples...”
"Races and species of warrior backgrounds share a common code of Spoken Law, for instance. That means when they give a verbal consent for surgery, for example, their word is their bond. To question that, means to question their integrity – to insult them in the worst way one can. Failure to understand this crucial part of their societies, has in many instances, resulted in said warrior-based patients becoming belligerent and unreasonable in their medical care.
Yes, Medical Law states that an aware and high-functioning patient must sign-off for medical care. However, in this situation, this is where we need to focus on the Medical Ethics portion of our job. Is being worried about malpractice from a potential surgical complication more important than your offended Klingon patient's rising hypertension, caused from you unintentionally insulting his honor?"
Veri gave a dramatic pause to let that sink in before she turned to another set of pictures on the wall behind her.
"Religion also places a heavy conflict with Medical Law. Many human religions especially, deny a woman the right to use birth control. Yet many teenage girls seek the need to attain contraceptives, in spite of their religions, so as their parents will not find out they are sexually active.
In this situation, we as medical professionals have a duty not to harm. The teenager might not be of adult age, but should we deny a sixteen year old girl because she has no guardian with her to decide for her? Medical Ethics tell us that she is old enough to know right and wrong and consequences that come from her actions. Therefore, we must honor her wishes and privacy, especially since the treatment poses no harm to her."
"An essential part of death is confirming the cause, for most death certificates. Something our Ferengi, and similar cultures deny. For Ferengi, it is a matter of preserving the body, so it can be properly cut up and auctioned..." Veri tried not to frown there, for she did not understand that particular belief. "Regardless of how we feel, we must respect the wishes of our religious patients, even though the outcome might not be the right one – medically, anyway."
"There is one last idea I wish for the medical professionals to think on. And that is, What is family? I ask this, because many times, we as a group of people, deny a gay significant other to act as the patient's Power of Attorney. In this day in age, not every person in the Federation feels the need to marry. And with the gay community, it does make it hard for them to care for each other when they have no written proof that they are joined as one."
Veri took that moment to drink a bit of water before she added, "Medical Ethics should be applied in situations where unaccepting family deny the patient's life partner's wishes. Especially when your heart is inclined to agree with the patient's partner.
In the end, it should not matter if laws tell us we are right or wrong. When in our hearts, we as healthcare professionals know the right decision is the toughest. We do not flinch. We save lives, and we offer the best quality of life. We respect our patients' wishes at all costs."
Veri nodded, glad to have that done with. Then she sighed to relax before she looked to the audience, "If any here wishes to ask something, they may. Though I would like to add, this was a presentation to think on – a self-discovery journey."
A somber looking and obviously elderly Vulcan man stood. "Captain S'vec. Thought provoking indeed and logically presented. I would state from my own long career in medicine that many times the ethics involved are situational as well. That is we must consider the circumstances at the time a medical intervention is required. A being might have certain cultural background or belief that say perhaps do not allow for surviving a grievous injury, say like a Klingon with an injured spine. However, if in the middle of a battle or disaster, we do our best to save any and all. There is no time delve into those aspects especially if we do not always know them, or have time for them. Thank you." He sat back down.
"Agreed... In the moment of crisis, especially when no one is there to speak for the patient, you must make the best call you can." Veri could not fault the argument there, and she did feel happy that a Vulcan of all people liked what she had to say.
Naois stood, after having taken a seat in the audience since his own presentation had been done. "But what if the culture denies autopsy, or even medical treatment, and your conscience tells you that you can in fact save a dying or injured patient?" he asked, "are we, as medical professionals, not obligated to do no further harm? Witholding treatment because of a cultural imposement would be doing harm to a patient who might in fact desire otherwise but is afraid to ask. What do we do, if a patient wishes to be treated, and asks for the treatment, but the culture prohibits it? Do we follow the culture propaganda, or do we consent to the patient's wishes?"
"If you know for fact the cultural and/or religious wishes of your patient, I advise to treat it as any other Do Not Resuscitate order," Veri spoke rather nervously. "If the patient does not agree with your actions, they could charge you for Assault, because you knew about their wishes... It is a hard instinct for us to ignore, but it is the patient we must respect for good or ill."
Veri looked around and when she found no more hands, the Deltan smiled brightly and bowed.
"I want to thank you all for attending and I hope all of you leave with something morally to ponder on," Veri spoke in closing.
To Be Continued...
[OFF]
--
RADM Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo
CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo
Lt Min Nicholas
Chief of Operations
USS Galileo
PO2 Eva Mercy
Propulsion Specialist
USS Galileo
[PNPC Min Nicholas]
Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy
Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo
Petty Officer 2nd Class Rebecca Williams
Yeoman to Captain Holiday
USS Galileo
Lt. Jared Nicholas
Language Specialist
USS Galileo
Nevedno Loz
Science Technician
USS Galileo
PNPC played by Jynn
PO3 Veri
Surgical Nurse
USS Galileo
[NPCed By Gyce]
Lt. j.g. Naois Mercy
Counsellor
USS Galileo
pnpc Tyrion
Cadet SO Wintrow Paragon
Support Craft Pilot
USS Galileo
pnpc Tyrion
Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USSGalileo
as herself and some temp NPCS
Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen
Medical Officer
USS Galileo
EMH Mk X-b
Emergency Medical Hologram
USS Galileo
[PNPC Holliday]
...and other assorted Galileans
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