Question

56) A 16-year-old girl comes to the physician because she is concerned that she may be at risk for Huntington disease. Her father, who has been divorced from her mother for many years and lives in another state, was recently diagnosed with this condition. The patient says that she knows about the genetic basis of Huntington disease and worries that she may develop it. She adds, “My mother seems so casual about it all. She says for me not to worry, that I won’t develop the disease, but I can’t help worrying.” The physician, who has provided care for this patient since birth, knows that the patient’s father is not her biological father. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step by the physician? A) Assure the patient that her mother is correct not to worry B) Contact the patient’s mother and encourage her to share the paternity history C) Tell the patient the truth about her paternity D) Arrange for genetic testing knowing that the result will be negative E) Refer the patient to a mental health provider to evaluate and treat her anxiety

          56) A 16-year-old girl comes to the physician because she is concerned that she may be at risk for Huntington disease. Her father, who has been divorced from her mother for many years and lives in another state, was recently diagnosed with this condition. The patient says that she knows about the genetic basis of Huntington disease and worries that she may develop it. She adds, “My mother seems so casual about it all. She says for me not to worry, that I won’t develop the disease, but I can’t help worrying.” The physician, who has provided care for this patient since birth, knows that the patient’s father is not her biological father. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step by the physician?
A) Assure the patient that her mother is correct not to worry
B) Contact the patient’s mother and encourage her to share the paternity history
C) Tell the patient the truth about her paternity
D) Arrange for genetic testing knowing that the result will be negative
E) Refer the patient to a mental health provider to evaluate and treat her anxiety

Show more…

Added by Hasan M.

Biology

Eldra P. Solomon, Charles E. Martin,… 11th Edition

Chapter 16

Instant Answer

Solved by Expert Tavis Lam

02/14/2024

Step 1

The first step for the physician is to listen carefully to the patient's concerns about Huntington's disease and her understanding of its genetic basis. This involves acknowledging her anxiety and fear about the possibility of inheriting the disease from her Show more…

Show all steps

lock

Thanks for your feedback!

56) A 16-year-old girl comes to the physician because she is concerned that she may be at risk for Huntington disease. Her father, who has been divorced from her mother for many years and lives in another state, was recently diagnosed with this condition. The patient says that she knows about the genetic basis of Huntington disease and worries that she may develop it. She adds, “My mother seems so casual about it all. She says for me not to worry, that I won’t develop the disease, but I can’t help worrying.” The physician, who has provided care for this patient since birth, knows that the patient’s father is not her biological father. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step by the physician? A) Assure the patient that her mother is correct not to worry B) Contact the patient’s mother and encourage her to share the paternity history C) Tell the patient the truth about her paternity D) Arrange for genetic testing knowing that the result will be negative E) Refer the patient to a mental health provider to evaluate and treat her anxiety

Play audio

Feedback

Powered by NumerAI

Tavis Lam and 55 other subject Biology educators are ready to help you.

Ask a new question

Labs

Want to see this concept in action?

NEW

Explore this concept interactively to see how it behaves as you change inputs.

View Labs

Key Concepts

Recommended Videos

Recommended Textbooks

Transcript

0:00 Hello everyone.

00:01 In this lesson, we're going to navigate a complex and sensitive scenario involving a 16 -year -old girl concerned about her risk for huntington's disease, given her father's recent diagnosis.

00:12 The case touches upon the ethical considerations healthcare providers must weigh when dealing with genetic concerns, family dynamics, and patient care.

00:22 Let's explore the most appropriate next step for the physician, considering the ethical principles of beneficence, non -maleficence, autonomy, and confidentiality.

00:36 So let's take a look at option a.

00:42 Assure the patient that her mother is correct not to worry.

00:46 This approach might provide temporary relief but doesn't address the underlying issue or the patient's autonomy to understand her health risks fully.

00:53 It could also undermine trust if she later discovers the truth about her paternity.

01:05 Contact the patient's mother and encourage her to share their paternity history.

01:09 This option respects the family's privacy and places the responsibility of disclosing sensitive information about paternity on her mother.

01:19 It allows for a family -centered approach to discussing the patient's concerns and the genetic risks associated with huntington's disease.

01:27 Option c.

01:32 Tell the patient the truth about her paternity.

01:34 Directly informing the patient about her paternity respects her autonomy and right to know her genetic risks...

Ace is your personal tutor. It breaks down any question with clear steps so you can learn.

Start Using Ace

Continue solving this problem

Create a free account to:

View full step-by-step solution
Ask follow-up questions with Ace AI
Save progress and study later