RESPONSE

Disability Rights Movement: Response to April

From the onset, it would be prudent to note that indeed, there are a wide range of challenges that healthcare professionals encounter in the course of engaging persons presenting with various disabilities. Some of these challenges have been referenced by April in hew write-up. One of the most crucial challenges that my colleague highlights has got to do with the establishment or determination of not only the values, but also the beliefs of an individual whose decision-making capacity happens to be limited. A person-centered program comes in handy in such a scenario. In basic terms, as McCormack and McCance (2016) point out, patient-centered care could be perceived as the move or undertaking to treat a person receiving healthcare with dignity and respect and involving them in all decisions about their health (211). The authors further indicate that when working with people presenting with various disabilities, patient-centered care could involve the inclusion of care givers as well as family members in decision-making. This is especially instrumental in seeking to ensure that the various preferences as well as needs of the patient have been captured in the design and implementation of various interventions. Indeed, as my colleague indicates, the relevant measures must also ways be taken to ensure that the interests being advanced at any given time are first and foremost those of the client. In the final analysis, it should be noted that the relevance of coming up with treatment plans that take into consideration each participants right to self-determination as well as individuality cannot be overstated. This has been clearly elucidated by my colleague in her write-up. Indeed, as my colleague indicates, this is instrumental in efforts to uphold the healthcare professionals commitment to do no harm. There would be need to further indicate that upholding each participants right to self-determination as well as individuality is an ideal approach towards the further enhancement of treatment outcomes.

References

McCormack, B. & McCance, T. (2016). Person-Centered Practice in Nursing and Health Care: Theory and Practice. John Wiley & Sons.