Topic 1:
Organ donation/transplantation surgery is pretty common in todayâs society. According to recent organ donation statistics, there are more than 100,000 men, women, and children in the United States are waiting for organs. Of these 100,000, approximately 18 die per day because a suitable organ match cannot be found. For those lucky enough to be matched with a donor, that donor is a total stranger. In other cases, adult family members are willing to donate.
What should be done though when an adult is not able to donate? Should young children be allowed to serve as donors? This particular question was raised in 1991 when a California couple allowed their newborn to serve as the donor for their dying teenage daughter (http://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/07/us/conceived-to-save-her-sister-a-child-is-born.html). What was controversial about this situation was that the couple purposely conceived the newborn to serve as the donor. Their actions stirred a lot of debate because no one really knew all of the risks involved for the newborn, and since the newborn could not consent to the procedure many thought that the painful bone marrow extraction procedure should not be done.
What do you think? Is it okay for a newborn/young child, who does not have the mental/physical capacity, to serve as an organ donor?
What about if the child is slightly older, maybe 12-16? If this child refuses to serve as a donor for a family member, should the parents be able to force him/her? What do you think?
Topic 2:
When considering cultural competence and cross-cultural issues, most people think of race, ethnicity, language, and even social groups, but what about sexual orientation? With the growing number of people in the United States and worldwide who identifying themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered (LGBT), everyone needs to reevaluate their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about this particular segment of the population.
For this discussion, please read the attached case study. As you read, really think about the scenario presented and how you would approach the situation. If you were the health care provider, what would/could you do to:
- provide the patient with culturally sensitive care.
- encourage the patient to disclose his sexual orientation to his family.
- ensure the patient received the proper treatment (remember the patient is traveling outside of his community for care).
Addressing HIV Care in the Asian Community