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49. Case: Reality Check?
View Case Study: 49. Case: Reality Check?A clerk and resident are frustrated after a morning of taking histories from and doing physical examinations of patients referred to the GI Clinic. As you (the attending clinic gastroenterologist) are going over the morning’s work with them, the clerk and resident complain that most of the patients seem to have less clinically significant symptoms…
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48. Case: Shared Experience
View Case Study: 48. Case: Shared ExperienceYou have recently started working as an RN in cardiology at the local pediatric health centre. One of the first cases you are involved with hits a little close to home. It involves a 2-year old patient named Kira who has a congenital cardiac abnormality. The clinical circumstances are similar to what you experienced with…
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47. Case: Collegial Responsibilities
View Case Study: 47. Case: Collegial ResponsibilitiesYou are a pediatric critical care specialist working in the ICU taking care of a newborn infant who suffered a severe, prolonged reduction in blood flow to his brain at the time of birth. The consulting neurologist has indicated that the infant’s prognosis for functional neurological recovery is very poor in the unlikely event that…
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45. Case: Un/Reasonable Expectations?
View Case Study: 45. Case: Un/Reasonable Expectations?It’s one of those days that you don’t look forward to as a manager. You have two complaints about staff that need to be dealt with, and it seems that these types of issues are increasing. The first complaint is from Ann about what was posted on another staff member’s social networking page. Ann visited…
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44. Case: Whose Business Is It?
View Case Study: 44. Case: Whose Business Is It?Brent Wathorn, 78, has been living at Halfway Lake Manor for about 6 years. His main complaint has been that he is lonely and has had difficulty connecting with the other residents. This has been a source of distress for staff at times, as they would like him to feel more ‘at home.’ Norma Carkner,…
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43. Case: What’s My Responsibility?
View Case Study: 43. Case: What’s My Responsibility?You’ve been a physician at the local hospital for a number of years and greatly enjoy your practice. You get the chance to see a range of patients and have worked closely with a variety of community members to facilitate the development of support networks for patients after they leave the hospital. Recently, in response…
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42. Case: “Oops, Did I Say Too Much?” The Ethics of Confidentiality
View Case Study: 42. Case: “Oops, Did I Say Too Much?” The Ethics of ConfidentialityYou work with a variety of patients and families, and often see firsthand both the joys and disappointments that can come with trying to manage mental health issues. Over time, you have developed some special expertise in working with patients with schizophrenia and often are asked by family doctors for assessments and/or support with treatment…
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34. Case: To Tell or Not to Tell
View Case Study: 34. Case: To Tell or Not to TellThe head pathologist of the regional hospital informs the head pathologist of the tertiary care centre that the post-mortem examination of a former patient, Mrs. Dempsey, has revealed that she suffered from a neurological infection called CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease). The tertiary centre pathologist reports this to the VP of Acute Care who determines through investigation…
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33. Case: Ethical Advertising?
View Case Study: 33. Case: Ethical Advertising?A hospital has placed billboards throughout the region with the following statement: “Are You a Victim of Sexual or Domestic Assault? Come to Warman Center Where We Will Treat You Immediately. Our Staff of Counsellors and Providers Have Received Special Sensitivity Training in This Area. You Are Our Main Concern.” A twenty-five-year-old college student presents…
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32. Case: To Report or Not
View Case Study: 32. Case: To Report or NotDr. B is the epidemiologist and director of infection control for an academic health centre. The reportable disease statutes and regulations in Dr. B’s province specify that hospitals and other health care facilities throughout the province are required to track nosocomial infections (infections not present in patients prior to their admission to the hospital) and…


