Write an essay on the treatment relationship in health care.
What is the overall responsibility of providers to deliver care?
What are some examples of wrongful denials and refusals to treat patients?
How are patients’ rights protected in some states?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
The Treatment Relationship in Healthcare: Providers’ Responsibilities and Patients’ Rights
In the realm of healthcare, the treatment relationship between providers and patients holds paramount importance in ensuring quality care delivery and patient well-being. This essay delves into the overall responsibilities of healthcare providers in delivering care, examples of wrongful denials and refusals to treat patients, and the protection of patients’ rights in various states.
Providers’ Responsibilities to Deliver Care
Healthcare providers have a fundamental responsibility to deliver care that is safe, effective, and patient-centered. Their overarching duties include:
– Ensuring Patient Safety: Providers must prioritize patient safety by adhering to best practices, infection control protocols, and medication administration guidelines.
– Providing Quality Care: Healthcare professionals are tasked with delivering high-quality care that meets established standards and guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.
– Maintaining Communication: Effective communication between providers and patients is crucial for informed decision-making, shared decision-making, and continuity of care.
– Respecting Patient Autonomy: Providers must respect patients’ autonomy by involving them in care decisions, respecting their preferences, and upholding their right to informed consent.
– Continuity of Care: Healthcare providers are responsible for ensuring continuity of care by coordinating services, facilitating transitions between care settings, and providing follow-up care.
Examples of Wrongful Denials and Refusals to Treat Patients
Wrongful denials and refusals to treat patients can have detrimental consequences for individuals seeking healthcare services. Some examples include:
– Insurance Denials: Patients may face wrongful denials of coverage by insurance companies, leading to barriers in accessing necessary treatments, medications, or procedures.
– Discriminatory Practices: Providers or institutions may wrongfully refuse to treat patients based on factors such as race, ethnicity, gender identity, or disability, violating anti-discrimination laws.
– Informed Consent Violations: Patients may experience wrongful denials of information or options for treatment, undermining their right to make informed decisions about their care.
– Emergency Care Refusals: Instances where patients are denied emergency care or stabilization services based on financial status or other non-clinical factors can have severe repercussions.
Protection of Patients’ Rights in Some States
To safeguard patients’ rights and ensure access to quality healthcare, some states have implemented regulations and laws aimed at protecting individuals seeking medical treatment. Examples of measures to protect patients’ rights include:
– Patient Bill of Rights: Some states have established patient bill of rights outlining individuals’ entitlements to privacy, informed consent, access to medical records, and participation in their care decisions.
– Anti-Discrimination Laws: Legal frameworks prohibiting discrimination in healthcare settings based on protected characteristics such as race, gender, age, disability status, or sexual orientation aim to ensure equitable treatment for all patients.
– Emergency Medical Treatment Laws: Laws mandating the provision of emergency medical care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay or insurance status help safeguard individuals in urgent medical situations.
– Health Information Privacy Laws: Regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protect patients’ confidentiality and privacy rights regarding their medical information.
In conclusion, the treatment relationship in healthcare hinges on the mutual trust, respect, and responsibilities shared between providers and patients. By upholding ethical standards, delivering quality care, respecting patients’ rights, and advocating for equitable access to healthcare services, providers play a pivotal role in promoting patient well-being and fostering positive treatment outcomes. Furthermore, the protection of patients’ rights through legal frameworks and regulations helps ensure that individuals receive fair and compassionate treatment in healthcare settings across various states.
