Essay --

Overview Upon entering the field of medicine, physicians agree to practice according to the Hippocratic Oath which states, â€Å"first, do no harm.† Although it seems like this task would be straight forward, it is not always clear on how to carry out this oath. One example of where conflicting viewpoints are often argued is how to resolve child abuse cases such as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSbP). MSbP is a relatively new form of child abuse in which a parent deliberately fabricates illnesses in their child to receive medical attention. Over the past 30 years, the recognition and prevalence of MSbP has increased, however, it is still difficult to identify and is highly under diagnosed (Maldonado, 2002). It has stirred much controversy and even the name itself is a topic of debate because MSbP is hard to define. Other terms to describe the condition include factitious disorder by proxy, pediatric condition falsification, and medical child abuse (Lowen & Reece, 2008). In treating a child that may be a victim of MSbP, using covert video surveillance (CVS) is controversial because blurred lines exist between using for it for diagnostic reasons versus legal reasons. When conducting CVS, typically two hidden cameras, placed in objects such as a wall clock or a ceiling light, monitor a parent’s activity without their knowledge (Shabde & Craft, 1999). A member of the care team, such as a nurse, and a police officer observe the video footage from a remote site to look for suspicious activity and intervene if the parent begins to harm the child. Some activity that is typically seen on footage include a parent poisoning their child with cleaning solution or salt, removing medical devices such as tubes, and smothering the child. Clinical Per... ...rs of the care team is communicating effectively with each other. Personal Perspective After researching the various viewpoints regarding CVS, I still maintain that it is ethical when used in good faith in order to protect the child. Many case studies have shown that not only is the child more likely to be put in a safer environment when child protective services has the evidence to intervene but it also saves siblings from potential harm. I believe that the physician’s role is to act in the best interest of the patient, especially when outside factors pose a threat to the child’s well-being. Although many view CVS as unethical because it infringes on privacy rights, it can also provide a great benefit. Studies such as the one conducted by David Southall make it difficult to dispute that there is not a value from using CVS as a form of diagnosis and intervention. Essay -- Overview Upon entering the field of medicine, physicians agree to practice according to the Hippocratic Oath which states, â€Å"first, do no harm.† Although it seems like this task would be straight forward, it is not always clear on how to carry out this oath. One example of where conflicting viewpoints are often argued is how to resolve child abuse cases such as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSbP). MSbP is a relatively new form of child abuse in which a parent deliberately fabricates illnesses in their child to receive medical attention. Over the past 30 years, the recognition and prevalence of MSbP has increased, however, it is still difficult to identify and is highly under diagnosed (Maldonado, 2002). It has stirred much controversy and even the name itself is a topic of debate because MSbP is hard to define. Other terms to describe the condition include factitious disorder by proxy, pediatric condition falsification, and medical child abuse (Lowen & Reece, 2008). In treating a child that may be a victim of MSbP, using covert video surveillance (CVS) is controversial because blurred lines exist between using for it for diagnostic reasons versus legal reasons. When conducting CVS, typically two hidden cameras, placed in objects such as a wall clock or a ceiling light, monitor a parent’s activity without their knowledge (Shabde & Craft, 1999). A member of the care team, such as a nurse, and a police officer observe the video footage from a remote site to look for suspicious activity and intervene if the parent begins to harm the child. Some activity that is typically seen on footage include a parent poisoning their child with cleaning solution or salt, removing medical devices such as tubes, and smothering the child. Clinical Per... ...rs of the care team is communicating effectively with each other. Personal Perspective After researching the various viewpoints regarding CVS, I still maintain that it is ethical when used in good faith in order to protect the child. Many case studies have shown that not only is the child more likely to be put in a safer environment when child protective services has the evidence to intervene but it also saves siblings from potential harm. I believe that the physician’s role is to act in the best interest of the patient, especially when outside factors pose a threat to the child’s well-being. Although many view CVS as unethical because it infringes on privacy rights, it can also provide a great benefit. Studies such as the one conducted by David Southall make it difficult to dispute that there is not a value from using CVS as a form of diagnosis and intervention.