Question

Case2 :

Fever All Through the Night

Beverley Atchison, vice president for administration, finished reading the minutes of the utilization review committee. Atchison noted that a lengthy discussion had occurred with regard to the seemingly overlong stay of a pediatric patient. In fact, the attending pediatrician had appeared before the committee to explain the length of stay and her unique treatment regimen. The case involved a child with a fever of unknown etiology. Routine tests after hospitalization showed no pathology. The physician explained that she had read about fever therapy in the literature and was impressed with its possibili- ties. Therefore, she decided to determine its appropriateness in cases of fever of unknown etiology.She ordered Tylenol if the fever went above 102.5 degrees Fahr- enheit. Otherwise, there was to be no intervention. The pediatrician stated that the efficaciousness of fever therapy was proven because after 3 days the child made a full recovery. The regimen raised numerous questions among the committee members, however

In this case what is ethical and unethical ?

Answer 1

Under ethical circumstances patient cannot be made to hospitalized unless the patient needs health setting of health professional. In expectional cases patient can be referred to senior specialist consultant before hospitalization to rule out the immediate admission.

It is unethical to keep the patient admitted in hospital for minute complaints if the complaints could be managed with prescribed medicines . There is a rational for the purpose of hospital admission.