Debate # 5

The debate performed on Tuesday I think went very well considering it seems like it was going to be a one-sided debate. Informed consent is still central to medical ethics. I would say of course it is very important and also very hard to argue. The con side said that cultures refuse to sign informed consent because they do not want to know what is happening to them in a procedure because of their religion. I do not understand this concept because if they want the physician treatment regardless of what is happening to them or what the outcome may be then why don't they just sign the paper and not read or listen to what is happening. If you are person who does not want to know why be offended by informed consent.
Another point was made about twenty three percent of hospitals have interpreters and what would I do if i needed one. Well I definately, in my opinion, would not recieve the procedure if I didnt know what was happening to me. I would pursue getting an interpreter so I would have an understanding of what is going on before I let anyone do any thing to me.
The opposing team says that more laws will not change anything, but how do they figure, I think the laws do alot for us now considering how the world has become, without them I think things would be alot worse. I dont believe that their should be an over abundance of laws making us not be able to be human, but yes they are need in alot of instances to regulate and make sure people know the difference between right and wrong.
A side brought up a case in were the physician states the alternatives to a performance because he/she is made too even though they do not believe in the alternatives and the patient decides to go with the alternative treatment and ends up dying, the physician is held liable. In my opinion the physician should not have done the procedure if he/she was uncomfortable with it and maybe should have referred the patient else where. If I wanted something done and the physician offered me alternatives even though he thought the original was the best, I would know how the physician felt about doing the alternatives that I was considering I would try and find someone who believes in them more and is more confident in the performance.
The con side also brought up about traditions like such in China were a girls father has to make the decision. I believe yes beliefs should be respected and considered but we do things a little different in American and I dont believe, if they made the decision to move here, that the father should have final say on the girls deicision especially if she opposes it.
The con side had to have some kind of argument even though it was very hard and I think they did well, but alot of these points brought up are very hard to argue and are there in black and white. We are American and yes we respect other countries beliefs and such, but we cannot change everything about our society to make someone from a different country feel better about their care.