Differentiate The Legal And Professional Policies Influencin

Differentiate The Legal And Professional Policies Influencing Healthca

Differentiate the legal and professional policies influencing healthcare decisions.

Scenario: As an active Nurse member of the American Nurses Association (ANA), you are committed to engaging in activities related to health policy issues. To demonstrate your role as a client advocate, you are writing a letter to a policy task force, or a legislative member or committee, pertaining to legal and professional policies associated with genetic discrimination that you have read about in the news.

Instructions: Write a sample letter to a policy task force, or a legislative member or committee, that demonstrates client advocacy pertaining to genetic discrimination and its correlation to legal and professional policies. Include the following details in the letter: a description/background of genetic discrimination, the specific problem, a description of the related legal policy, a description of the related professional policy, a differentiation of the levels of policy and impact variations, your input defending your advocacy for clients impacted by the discrimination, and relevant resources.

Paper For Above instruction

Dear Members of the Policy Review Committee,

I am writing to you as a registered nurse and a proud member of the American Nurses Association (ANA), to bring attention to a critical issue impacting patient rights and healthcare equity: genetic discrimination. Recent news reports have highlighted incidents where individuals face discrimination based on their genetic information, which hampers their access to employment, insurance, and other essential services. This issue necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the legal and professional policies that guard against such discrimination, as well as advocacy for stronger protections.

Genetic discrimination occurs when individuals are treated unfairly because of differences in their DNA that may suggest predispositions to certain health conditions. For example, individuals undergoing genetic testing for cancer susceptibility or hereditary diseases might face denial of employment or insurance coverage solely based on their genetic profile. This form of discrimination can discourage patients from pursuing necessary genetic testing and preventive care, ultimately undermining public health efforts.

The legal framework currently addressing genetic discrimination primarily stems from the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008. GINA prohibits employers and health insurers from using genetic information to make employment decisions or deny health coverage. It aims to protect individuals from genetic discrimination and ensure privacy of genetic data. However, GINA does not extend to life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance, leaving gaps that could potentially be exploited. Moreover, enforcement challenges and limited awareness remain hurdles to effective implementation.

In addition to legal policies, professional organizations like the American Nurses Association have established ethical guidelines emphasizing patient advocacy, confidentiality, and informed consent. The ANA Code of Ethics explicitly promotes the responsibility of nurses to protect patient privacy and advocate for policies that eliminate discrimination. These professional standards serve to guide nurses in supporting patients impacted by genetic discrimination, urging consistent ethical practice across healthcare settings.

Differentiating policies at various levels reveals their impact on healthcare decision-making. Legal policies such as GINA are enforceable laws designed to provide broad protections and establish penalties for violations. They serve as the foundation for safeguarding patient rights but may have gaps that require legislative expansion. Conversely, professional policies are ethical standards that guide individual practitioners' conduct, fostering an environment of trust and integrity within clinical practice. While legal policies establish the boundaries of permissible conduct, professional policies influence day-to-day decision-making and uphold ethical obligations.

As a nurse committed to advocating for vulnerable populations, I believe it is imperative that we strengthen legal protections against genetic discrimination beyond current statutes. Education campaigns are necessary to raise awareness among patients and healthcare providers about existing laws and their limitations. Moreover, collaboration between legislative bodies and professional organizations can foster comprehensive policies that address all forms of discrimination, including those unprotected by current law.

Resources such as the National Human Genome Research Institute, the Genetic Alliance, and the CDC offer valuable information on genetic discrimination and rights. Engaging in ongoing professional development ensures nurses remain informed advocates capable of guiding patients through complex ethical and legal landscapes. Ultimately, robust policy frameworks and ethical commitments are essential to protecting patient autonomy, privacy, and equitable access to healthcare services.

Thank you for considering this vital issue. I urge your team to prioritize the reinforcement and expansion of protections against genetic discrimination to uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Credentials]

[Your Contact Information]

References

  • American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. ANA.
  • Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-233.
  • National Human Genome Research Institute. (2023). Genetic Discrimination. NIH.
  • Genetic Alliance. (2022). Understanding Genetic Discrimination Policies.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Genetic Testing and Privacy.
  • Kelly, M. A., & Blake, K. D. (2019). Ethical considerations in genetic discrimination. Journal of Medical Ethics, 45(3), 179-185.
  • O’Neill, K. & Meagher, J. (2021). Legal and ethical aspects of genetic testing. Healthcare Law Review, 27(2), 134-142.
  • American Nurses Association. (2017). Advocacy guidelines for nurses. ANA.
  • Schmidt, M., & Thomsen, M. (2020). Policy gaps in genetic nondiscrimination law. Law & Policy in Healthcare, 12(4), 255-263.
  • Wertz, D. C., & Sander, L. M. (2022). Ethical challenges in genetic information. Bioethics, 36(1), 20-27.

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