Cultural Diversity in Healthcare

Cultural Diversity in Healthcare Data from different literature sources indicate that the world is experiencing an increase in refugees, immigrants, and migrants than any other time in recent decades. A myriad of challenges accompanies the movement of people from one region to another (Muenstermann, 2017). For instance, healthcare providers are dealing with individuals from diverse cultural and social backgrounds. Diversity calls for care professionals to provide care services that address the health needs of individuals without violating their cultural and personal values. This paper addresses questions regarding the ethical dilemma of disclosing health information to family members.

How should the health team respond to the father’s request?

The healthcare team is facing a potential dilemma due to the father’s refusal to disclose the child’s health information to the mother and other family members. In line with the principle of autonomy, the father has the right to make medical decisions for the child (Purnell & Fenkl, 2019). However, family involvement is crucial, especially in pediatric care. The most appropriate way for the healthcare team to respond is to assure the father that they will honor his will.

Nonetheless, the team needs to educate the father of the need to inform other family members concerning the child’s health. During education, the team should gather more information concerning the family history. The history should guide the healthcare team in deciding whether they should disclose the health information to the mother.

Should the team tell the mother what they know and go against the father’s wishes?

In the current scenario, the mother has a right to know the fate of her child. However, the team should gather more information concerning the mother’s health to understand why the father fears that disclosure would cause her more harm. The team should not act contrary to the father’s will, affecting the mother’s health. The father noted that he knows her wife well. This statement indicates a possibility that the family might have experienced a similar situation in the past. The mother may also suffer from psychological conditions that might be aggravated by the abrupt disclosure of depressing news concerning their child’s poor health. Therefore, the healthcare team should not disclose the child’s health information to the mother. Instead, they should encourage the father to ensure the mother is aware of the treatment plan and projected outcomes.

How would the religious beliefs play into the father’s request not to informing the mother?

Religious values significantly influence medical decisions, as pointed out by Purnell and Fenkl (2019). The current family relocated from Pakistan, which mostly adheres to Islamic teaching. In Muslim societies, the father is the family and the ultimate decision-maker. The man is expected to demonstrate kindness and respect her wife’s feelings. Therefore, the father in this case, might have opted for non-disclosure to protect his wife’s feelings in line with Islamic teachings.

Can American healthcare professionals insert their values and traditions in health care?

Healthcare professionals in American hospitals are obligated to provide holistic care that surpasses racial, cultural, and ethnic barriers. However, these professionals must integrate the patients’ personal and cultural values to improve their satisfaction and improve their quality of life. Cochran, Saleem, Khowaja-Punjwani, and Lantos (2017) noted that the insertion of the care provider’s cultural values and interests is highly discouraged as it may contradict the patients’ values and interests. In this case, the patient’s values are represented by his father.

Ethics of nondisclosure in line with the father’s wishes The health care team can either decide to inform the mother contrary to the father’s wishes or comply with his request. Following the father’s request would not contradict the established ethical principles. The healthcare team would be acting in line with the principle of autonomy which bestows the right to make final medical decisions regarding child care on the parents (Abrishami, 2018). Since the father’s decision does not place the child in danger, it does not contravene other ethical principles.

References Abrishami, D. (2018). The need for cultural competency in health care. Radiologic Technology, 89(5), 441-448. http://www.radiologictechnology.org/content/89/5/441.short Cochran, D., Saleem, S., Khowaja-Punjwani, S., & Lantos, J. D. (2017). Cross-cultural differences in communication about a dying child. Pediatrics, 140(5), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-0690 Muenstermann, I. (Ed.). (2017). People's movements in the 21st century: Risks, challenges, and benefits. BoD–Books on Demand.

Purnell, L. D., & Fenkl, E. A. (2019). Transcultural diversity and health care. In Handbook for culturally competent care (pp. 1-6). Springer, Cham.