This report aims to outline the processes, eligibility criteria and Medicare funding involved with IVF in Australia, and discusses in-depth two ethical issues associated with IVF in relation to the 42 year old woman scenario.
________________ Table of Contents: Table of Contents: Introduction: Processes of IVF: IVF in Australia: Eligibility Criteria: Medicare Funding for IVF: Ethical Issues of IVF: Rights of the Mother: Rights of the Child: Conclusion: Reflection: Appendix – References: ________________ Introduction: In vitro Fertilisation (IVF) encompasses the fertilisation of an egg by sperm outside of the human body and is currently a leading treatment for infertility. This report aims to outline the processes, eligibility criteria and Medicare funding involved with IVF in Australia, and discusses in-depth two ethical issues associated with IVF in relation to the 42 year old woman scenario. Processes of IVF: Sources: (City Fertility Centre, 2009), (HCF, 2013) & (Virtus Health, 2013) Source: (Virtus Health, 2013) Source: (Virtus Health, 2013) IVF in Australia: IVF treatment is currently only available through the private healthcare system and despite overwhelming desires by infertile couples to have children; the cost of IVF fertility is still quite high as a result of insufficient support from the public healthcare system. Despite Australia’s relatively high first-treatment pregnancy rate of 47% and 19% for women under 30 and over 40 respectively (Virtus Health, 2013),
What is to blame for Autism?
What is to blame for Autism? Following reports in the media, 'the triple measles, mumps and rubella vaccine was yesterday given the all clear by experts'1 after nearly eight years of worry. Because of what the experts have said in the past about it causing autism, parents have feared letting their children have the MMR injection. Research suggests that levels of autism have increased over the last ten years, but nobody really knows why there has been such an increase or what is causing it. Autism is a condition that starts in childhood usually between the child's first and second birthday, and continues throughout adult life. It is a developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and interacts with other people. Reality to an autistic person is a confusing interacting mass of events, people, places, sounds and sights. Many autistic children have exceptional skills, such as drawing, mathematics or playing an instrument, whereas others tend to spend a lot of time alone and become obsessed with objects or routines. About one in 2,000 people have an autistic disorder. Boys are four times more likely to be affected than girls, although some research suggests that when girls have the condition they may be more severely affected.2 So what is causing autism? A paper was published by a Dr. Andrew Wakefield in the medical journal The Lancet in 1998,3
Is there a link between the MMR vaccine and the increasing number of cases of autism?
Is there a link between the MMR vaccine and the increasing number of cases of autism? By Peter Rooney In 1988 the MMR vaccine was introduced to the UK. In this year there were 26,222 cases of measles and 16 deaths, more than 20,000 cases of mumps and approximately 25,000 cases of rubella. Ten years later and it was being hailed as a "wonder" vaccine as in 1998 there were just 112 cases of measles, 94 cases of mumps and 122 cases of rubella. What had caused its rapid decrease in popularity from its peak in 1996 when the percentage of MMR vaccine take-up in children was 92% to its fall of 10% in 2002 to 82%? Parents were being faced with the dilemma to either listen to the reassurances from the government and most scientists that the vaccine was safe, or to listen to the allegations made by Wakefield et al that the vaccine caused autism. Measles, mumps and rubella all have serious complications. Measles can cause respiratory problems, ear infections and meningitis. Mumps can cause deafness and before the MMR vaccine it was the biggest cause of viral meningitis in children. Rubella can cause inflammation of the brain and can affect blood clotting. In pregnant women it can cause disastrous consequences such as a miscarriage or health problems for the child such as heart problems or brain damage. In 1998 claims were made by Wakefield and his colleagues that there was a link
Are vaccinations really a safe method of disease prevention?
Are vaccinations really a safe method of disease prevention? Vaccination is a method of disease prevention. Vaccines contain an inactive or weakened form of the bacteria or virus causing the disease which is trying to be prevented. A response is triggered by our body's immune system but the disease is not caused. The production of antibodies is stimulated to help eliminate the bacteria or virus from the body. Edward Jenner was responsible for disease prevention by vaccination in 1796. He noticed how dairymaids who caught cowpox, a minor disease, never caught smallpox, a fatal disease. He infected a young boy with cowpox and he suffered from it for a short while. Later, he exposed the same boy to smallpox and the boy did not catch it. Cowpox was enough like smallpox for the body to become immune to smallpox. This was the first recorded vaccination (1). Today, humans around the world are vaccinated against many different diseases, and most people believe them to be safe and effective. But are they? The number of cases of several different fatal diseases has declined and many diseases have been eradicated in the past years, but is it the vaccine that should be awarded for this or is it that living standards have improved? Microbiologists would probably attribute the decline of reported cases of disease to the increase in mass vaccination. They would claim that it is
reflective essay on placement
The Nature of Nursing Organization and Delivery of Care Order No: 175375 No: of pages - 12 Premium writer - 6530 Introduction: The Medical Profession is more a vocation than just a profession. It needs dedication and selflessness besides good qualification and experience. Therefore it cannot be taken for granted. It is a field that is constantly changing and adapting itself for much quicker and better patient outcomes as Science and Technology take us to another higher level. Besides having good knowledge and experience of things, any person working in the medical field has to have nerves of steel and a heart of gold, the values of which compliment each other. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) that is a regulatory body observes and adapts a professional and statutory framework and guidance in nursing practice. It is entrusted with the responsibility of setting and monitoring the standard for professional education, performance at work and the good conduct or character of those employed in 2 the medical service. In so doing, it helps to maintain a high standard of things because it is free from prejudice and other discriminatory factors. In the interest of public protection, it is the duty of the NMC to see that these functions are dutifully carried out. In order to do this, the members follow the principles laid down in the first
reflective case study
Reflective Case Study The concept of reflection as a learning tool in workplace education can enable the student to problem solve in practice. By exploring the individuals own unique situations and past experience they can, in order to learn, consider past thoughts and memories to achieve a desired outcome. (Rolfe, 1998). Taylor (2000) suggests that, to reflect on action from an event, we must remember our thoughts and memories. Then we must use the ability of contemplation, meditation and consideration, which will enable us to make sense of them in order to modify our behaviour, should we encounter a similar experience in the future. Introduction The following reflective account aims to explore specific complications and difficulties encountered after obtaining a history and performing a physical examination on a young patient that presented to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department. The incident that I have chosen to look at took place whilst on a placement in the Minor Injuries Unit based in an A & E Department following a theoretical module on Patient Assessment. Confidentiality has been preserved throughout in accordance with the Health Professions Council (HPC) Code of Professional Conduct (HPC, 2002). To achieve and understand the use of reflection in a structured manner, the Gibbs (1988) Reflective Cycle will be utilised. Bulman and Schutz (2004)
Origin,causes and treatments of gastroenteritis using a case study
Origin,causes and treatments of gastroenteritis using a case study Lower gastrointestinal infections Case history 'Bertrand, a 35 year old Frenchman with nausea,abdominal pain and diarrhoea' Gastroenteritis is a non-specific term used to describe a condition that causes irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines in which there is a combination of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.3The gastrointestinal tract contain natural defences which include, gastric acid, bile salts, normal bowel flora, immune responces,motility and protection against toxins by the action of the liver. These influence the nature of local flora and of pathogens that may invade 5. It used to be known as winter vomiting disease1.Micro organisms responsible for gastrointestinal infections vary from one geographic area to another and it depends on the level of sanitation, economic development and hygiene standards. In developing countries it is a major cause of death in children and it is estimated that 4 million children under 5 die from this every year. Usually do to bacteria or parasite contaminating crops and water. In the UK it is estimated that 1 in 5 people will get gastroenteritis and it is usually due to food poisoning. Most cases clear up itself within a week. Severe infections are uncommon in the UK and epidemiology studies have generally noted that rotavirus induced
The MMR-Vaccination & Autism Controversy
The MMR-Vaccination & Autism Controversy (Word Count = 2080) .0 INTRODUCTION Autism is a neuropsychiatric disorder that was first described in 1943 by Kanner. This disorder is characterised by early signs of impairments in socialisation and communication (refer to appendix 1.0). However, no two autistic cases are the same. It is generally found that symptoms occur along a spectrum which includes children and adults across the range of severity and intellectual ability, from severely impaired to high-functioning. Consequently, the term Autistic Spectrum Disorders (hereafter known as ASD) has been employed in an attempt to describe the diversity of the condition. Onset is seen generally before the age of 3 years old (Volkmar & Pauls, 2003). Having said this, due to the nature of the condition, diagnoses may not be made up until five years in severe cases of the spectrum or up until adulthood in mild cases. There have been many claims of cures and successes at various symptoms have been made with treatment options, however, the disorder is a life-long disability requiring substantial amounts of care, affection and attention as part of continual maintenance. According to the National Autistic Society, there are currently 500,000 families affected by ASD in the UK. Autism was once considered a rare disorder before the late 1980's. However, since the introduction of the
MMR Vaccination.
MMR Vaccination MMR vaccine is a three part vaccine, given by injection, which is to protect (immunise) against Measles, Mumps and German Measles (Rubella). In the UK it is given to children at 12 to 15 months, with a reinforcing dose (a booster) before school, usually between 3 and 5 years. The Vaccine The vaccine is a freeze-dried preparation which contains live virus particles of the three viruses, which have been modified (attenuated) to stop them from producing the full effects of the disease. The vaccine is given, by injection, into the thigh or upper arm. It has been found that a booster, before school, makes it likely that more people will be properly protected. The idea is to fool the body's defence system into thinking it is under attack by the viruses, and to produce defence mechanisms (antibodies) which will fight off the conditions if they are encountered in the future. There is no risk of someone who has been vaccinated infecting other people with the viruses. Usually the vaccine is for children, but it can be given to non-immune adults. It is suggested that people in long term institutional care, who are not immune, should have the vaccine. It is also recommended that students starting at college or university, who have not received the vaccine previously, should be offered it. Reasons for having the inoculation The most serious of these, as far as
Should my child have the MMR vaccination?
Should my child have the MMR vaccination? (Source wikepedia) Introduction Why is this question even being considered? The above graph shows that when the vaccine was licensed, there was a sudden drop in reported cases of RUBELLA, MUMPS and MEASELS. So why is this question being asked? In February 1998 research led by Dr Wakefield is the first to suggest that the MMR vaccine might be linked to an increased risk of autism and bowel disorders. MMR stands for MUMPS MEASELES AND RUBELLA. The MMR the injection of immunity against measles mumps and rubella it is given to a child around the age of one with a booster dose before starting school. If a child catches any of the diseases he is isolated from school. If the mother has been protected then the baby will have the mother's antibodies and is already immune. How does a vaccine work? Step 1 Small amount of disease MOs are put into your body. Dead or inactive forms are used so you don't get the disease itself. Sometimes just parts of the MOs are used. Step 2 White blood cells recognise the foreign MOs. They make the right antibodies to stick to the MOs. Step 3 The antibodies make the MOs clump together. White blood cells digest the clump. Step 4 If you meet the real disease MO, the antibodies you need are made very quickly. Step 5 The MOs are destroyed before they can make you ill. Vaccines Vaccines make use of the