You will complete
the case study for Chapter 13. You will find this case study within
your online resources. Additionally, the case study with required
questions is included as follows:
Case Study | Questions
Katie is an advanced practice nurse who works in a busy neurosurgical unit in a large teaching health-care
center. She has become friends with several of the neurosurgeons who are nationally recognized for their skills.
One day she is approached by an RN friend of hers, Ginger, who works with immigrants in a free clinic, on behalf
of a patient who recently came to the United States from Costa Rica. The woman brought her twin sons who
were born joined at the head. She approaches one of her physician friends about examining the twins for
possible surgery. The physician agrees and, after the exam, is very excited about the prospects of surgery to
correct the defects and separate the twins. It would be a first-time, cutting-edge surgery, the results of which he
could publish in a major medical journal and also gain international recognition for. Unfortunately, the patient
will not be able to pay for the surgery.
The physician orders a number of image studies that appear to indicate that both infants should survive
the surgery, but they will need intensive hospital care for several months after the surgery. They will also need
long-term, outpatient rehabilitation and home care. Quite often, children who have severe neurological
problems will have lifetime deficits, including retardation and mobility issues.
After explaining the procedure to the chief of staff, the department expresses its interest in performing this
groundbreaking surgery. The physician and several other surgeons offered to perform the surgery without pay,
and the hospital, because of its status as a major teaching institution, agreed to provide postoperative inpatient
care at no expense to the family. However, no one has come forth to pay for the care after the twins leave the
ICU and for outpatient follow-up. Because the condition of the twins has been deteriorating, the physician
schedules the surgery in 2 days’ time.
Should the family’s ability to pay for long-term and home care for these children play a role in the
physician’s decision about when and whether to perform the surgery? Why or why not?
What should Katie include in the teaching plan for this family?
If no funds are available for future care, should the surgeon operate? Where might the mother of the
twins find additional funding?
Is the surgeons’ and hospital’s willingness to forgo any payment purely altruistic? Why or why not? If not, how might they
leverage the media attention into funding the recovery of the twins?
How do you feel about people from foreign countries coming to the United States to receive advanced
health care for free?
Is there an issue of distributive justice in the use of scarce resources? Discuss.
Cite the sources used in APA 7th edition format (See your Student Resources).
