Nursing Assignment

Please read the book — Brawley O. W. (2011). How we do harm: A doctor breaks ranks about being sick in America.

Chapter 16, Saving Representative Silvio Conte
Chapter 17, The Quintessential American Human Bias and Patient Protections

This week, you will read about the ways in which providers are challenged to implement evidence-based health care, given the problem of human bias, the lack of patient protections, and the difficulty of saying “no” to patients. “Alas, the only remedy against a patient who insists on inappropriate care is to just say no. To our detriment, that is exactly what our health-care system is so ill-equipped to do” (Brawley, 2011, p. 191)Write a response to questions 1 and 2 (250 words maximum response to each question; total maximum 500 words).

“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” ~ Shakespeare

As humans, we are all susceptible to bias and clouded judgment regardless of how educated or informed we are. In order to make good decisions, we must continually practice self-awareness and be open to new information, even if it contradicts what we previously believed or understood. This week’s reading offers examples of patients who were negatively impacted when they received inappropriate treatment or treatment that advantaged the provider over the patient.

1) What does Brawley mean when he states that Debbie is “the quintessential American consumer of health care”(pg. 187)?

2) What health care policy could be put in place to protect patients from receiving unnecessary care?