Examining Ethical and Cultural Perspective of A health Issue
Type 2 diabetes in children and young adults
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Ethical and cultural perspectives
Introduction
Type 2 –diabetes is caused by resistance to insulin and the failure of b-cell. Insulin resistance and the limited b-cell reserve are due to possible genetic and environmental risk factors (Lascar et al., 2018). Obesity among children and young adults is the most significant that cause this disease. These factors include; adolescence, sedentary lifestyles, and intrauterine exposure to diabetes. This paper will provide a detailed analysis of the ethical and cultural perspectives on this disease in children and youths. The study of the ethical perspective will give answers to the research following questions: What laws govern the ethics of diabetes in children? The study seeks to provide answers to the following question: How do ethics influence the formulation of policies that govern diabetes in children and youths? What are the cultural perceptions of diabetes among children and youths? Which cultural values and or norms influence the issue?
Ethical perspective inquiry
Level 1: Selected question: What laws govern or pertain to the issue?
In the United States, young people with diabetes are protected by three federal laws. The laws aim at ensuring that people with this disease have equal chances of participating and succeeding in school. According to the law, institutions that receive funding from the federal government are prohibited from discriminating against people with diabetes based on disability (Nwose & Bwititi, 2016). This Act also gives an outline that schools can use to determine the services needed by a student with a disability.
The privacy of minors and youths with diabetes is governed by an established law. According to FERPA, all school information on health is considered to be educational records, and they must be kept in a confidential way (Nwose & Bwititi, 2016). On the other hand, children and young adults’ medical records maintained by a private healthcare provider are controlled by HIPAA. These laws aim at streamlining the exchange of information between healthcare providers, school nurses, and school employees who collaborate to take care of children with type 2 diabetes.
Under the FERPA law, schools are prohibited from revealing personal information in a student’s educational records that can identify that student without the parent’s consent (Nwose & Bwititi, 2016). However, where the teachers have valid scholarly interests, FERPA permits schools to reveal information kept in a student’s educational records without seeking consent from school officials. The HIPAA law outlines how the confidentiality and security of personally identifiable health records can be protected. Parents or guardians of minors and youths with this disease are protected by the Family Medical Labor Act of 1993. This Act permits parents/ guardians to seek a maximum of 12 weeks of unpaid leave from work to provide care to children with type 2 diabetes.
Level 2: Composed question: How do ethics influence the formulation of policies on the treatment of diabetes in minors and the youth?
In the medical field, ethics are significant in the formulation of policies. Policymakers in the medical field are guided by the Hippocratic Oath, which forms the foundation upon which ethics are built (Gubrium et al. 2014). In formulating policies that govern the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in minors and the youths, a more significant part of the ethical framework is based on transparency and consent. Patients who are minors and the youths may not practice self-medication. Therefore, medical frameworks require a different approach to addressing this issue. The policies should thus empower parents/guardians to assist the patients in self-administration of the drugs. Furthermore, ethics must be adhered to in the formulation of policies that pertain to the management of type diabetes in minors and the youths, which guarantees the privacy of the patients.
Cultural perspectives of inquiry
Level 1: Selected question: Which cultural norms and/ values influence this issue?
The issue of this type of disease in minors and the youth is greatly influenced by culture. Culture is the connected patterns of human beings’ way of conduct, language, traditions, beliefs, and norms. According to Eh et al. (2016), cultural norms influence how patients understand health matters, identify diseases, and seek medication. Diagnosis of this disease requires the establishment of a right patient-clinician relationship. When done early enough, it helps in uncovering any cultural faiths or norms that may hinder or affect the use of medication such as insulin. The family system in individual races plays an important role, which may influence the diagnoses and treatment of diabetes in young patients. Families provide support to the patients who may lack information on the progression of the disease. Members of a family may influence patients not to use insulin when the importance of insulin is not understood, which may result in patient dissatisfaction, non- adherence to treatment, absence of follow-ups, and adverse patient results. There is a need to understand the family’s cultural values for the effective administration of insulin therapy to children with type 2- diabetes.
Social factors like lifestyles and experiences are cultural components that influence the issue of type 2 diabetes. For instance, some Asian cultures perceive insulin as an indication of a severe sickness, which even affects ones’ relationship in marriage (Eh et a, 2016). Having tight schedules, stopping certain social activities, feeling embarrassed by injecting oneself in public, feeling social rejection influence the issue of type 2 diabetes. In some families, insulin therapy is considered a burden. Religion is part of the cultural norms and beliefs that impact this issue. Religious faiths and norms are crucial in different cultures and determine the success or failure in the treatment of this disease. For instance, among Hispanics in the U.S, praying is used as a spiritual intervention for their health, including diseases such as diabetes. Other races use spirituality and religion as a strategy to cope with diabetes. Fasting among Muslims is part of their faith, which may impact their decisions on the use of insulin. The cultural norms or values influence the issue of diabetes, which may negatively impact the treatment of the disease.
Level 2: Composed question: What is the perception of different cultures on diabetes in minors and the youths?
Different cultures perceive the issue of diabetes in children in minors differently. Some cultures may consider medical intervention to address this issue, while others may opt for unorthodox methods of intervention. People in less developed countries have customs and beliefs that are based on superstitions. Such people may view this disease as a form of witchcraft. These perceptions may prevent the patients from seeking treatment in time, which can lead to the rapid progression of the disease and even death (Eh et al., (2016). Increasing literacy levels on this disease can eliminate the outdated perceptions that people have this disease.
Conclusion
Different pieces of legislation have been enacted to govern the issue of diabetes in minors and youths. The laws seek to shield children with this disease from discrimination in school. Additionally, these laws aim at ensuring that children’s medical records are confidential and can only be accessed by authorized people. According to these laws, parents or caretakers of children with type 2-diabetes are entitled to time off from work to take care of the children. Ethics must determine the creation of blueprints on this disease. The medical field relies on ethics, which are guided by the Hippocratic Oath. Different cultural beliefs and norms influence the issue of type 2-diabetes in children and young adults in different parts of the world.
Peoples’ religion shapes cultural beliefs, family structure, race, language, and lifestyles. The issue of diabetes in minors and youths is perceived differently in different cultures globally. The perceptions held to determine the type of treatment intervention methods adopted by the patient. The views held by different people on this issue affect patient outcomes. To effectively manage this disease, healthcare providers must understand the laws that pertain to the disease. They should also understand the culture and perspective that people have on the condition.
References
.Gubrium, A. C., Hill, A. L., & Flicker, S. (2014). A situated practice of ethics for participatory visual and digital methods in public health research and practice: A focus on digital storytelling. American Journal of Public Health, 104(9), 1606-1614.
Lascar, N., Brown, J., Pattison, H., Barnett, A. H., Bailey, C. J., & Bellary, S. (2018). Type 2 diabetes in adolescents and young adults. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 6(1), 69-80.
McSharry, J., McGowan, L., Farmer, A. J., & French, D. P. (2016). Perceptions and experiences of taking oral medications for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta‐synthesis of qualitative studies. Diabetic Medicine, 33(10), 1330-1338.
Nwose, E. U., & Bwititi, P. T. (2016). Bio-psycho-sociocultural basis of diabetes rehabilitation: case report with implications for cultural competence and physiotherapy. International Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 5(4), 1-11.