What is the jist of the case? Someone(s) should give a brief synopsis. What would you do? (Respond to the questions at the end of the case by 5 May). Discuss with each other (respond to at least 2 of your classmates - by 10 May).
Gregory is 25 years old, an adult, and able to make his own decisions. The piece that is up for debate for me is the fact that he is unmarried and without children at this point. People think they know what they want and when/if they meet a special someone sometimes they have a change of heart.
Since vasectomies can now be reversed I would not be against a man deciding to do this. I do however think he should first undergo some sort of counseling session similar to people that want to have a sex change operations or weight loss surgeries since a decision like this can affect your mental health. If after an evaluation he is approved then I don’t see any problem with a man like Gregory cannot chose to have an elective vasectomy. The fact that Gregory cannot even afford the procedure makes me believe that he is in no position to be able to financially take responsibility of a child.
I’m sure there is a chance that a vasectomy cannot be reversed and a man would be left permanently sterile, but a woman can choose to have procedures done to prevent pregnancies which can also lead to sterilization. The ball has always been in the woman’s court to prevent pregnancies, besides the use of condoms for a man. I think it’s time a man can make that decision for himself and take charge of his reproductive health. If done the road he indeed is sterile and he wishes to have children, adoption is always an option.
Shelley, That is a very good point about counseling. A different perspective from someone other than a health care professional might be more meaningful to him, That is a big decision to make alone and he should definitely talk to more people and seek more opinions. The whole financial thing threw me a little too, I'm not sure why this surgery is such a priority to him to have right now if he is having financial difficulties. Seems he could save money and wait longer to make this decision. However, I agree too that it is just as much a right for him to be able to make this decision for himself as a woman who wants the same thing.
Shelley, That is a very good point about counseling. A different perspective from someone other than a health care professional might be more meaningful to him, That is a big decision to make alone and he should definitely talk to more people and seek more opinions. The whole financial thing threw me a little too, I'm not sure why this surgery is such a priority to him to have right now if he is having financial difficulties. Seems he could save money and wait longer to make this decision. However, I agree too that it is just as much a right for him to be able to make this decision for himself as a woman who wants the same thing.
I also agree with you Shelly with the counseling piece! That is a great idea to effectively evaluate his reasons and thoughts on his elective vasectomy. And after completing this he stills feels stronger about having it done, than he is free to do so. The fact with not even having the money for the procedure elsewhere is also a good point. At least he is smart enough to realize he is not able to afford a child at this point!
I also agree with you guys! The counseling piece is a great idea. I think the MD should also make sure it explains everything in great detail; risk and benefits. I think he should also attend sex education class related to STD if he is going to be having unprotected sex. The MD should also give him options as to choices such as reverse and possible freezing his sperm.
Great ideas girls about counseling and freezing the sperm. He definitely isn't financially ready for a child if he can't afford the surgery. Everybody should be able to decide if they want children or not. i know that I have seen plenty of people that shouldn't have kids. At least he is making a conscious decision about his future.
Elizabeth, I like the idea of freezing the sperm as well. It could be a definite alternative for the future if he and his spouse were to decide on having children.
while I think counseling could be offered , but it almost makes it sound as if Gregory is somehow abnormal because he has chosen not to procreate. I think a decision like this should be his and his alone. Who are we to question the reasoning behind it ?
I agree that counseling in the way of a video or online class should be required. The MD could then say that the patient was educated and able to make an informed decision.
In this case study, Gregory X is a 25 y/o male wanting a vasectomy. He is unmarried, has no kids, and is not in a relationship it seems. He feels this will be an asset to any woman he is in love with in the future, to not worry about birth control. He has thought about this for years and doesn't ever want to be a parent. Dr. H. doesn't want to perform the surgery as he thinks Gregory will regret it later when he does meet his future wife. 1. I do think Dr. H. should perform the surgery despite his reservations. It is his duty to explain the surgery to him and that it is possibly irreversible should he decide to change his mind. Gregory seems to have done his research and has thought this through. He is now a customer, and in order to deliver good customer service, Dr. H. should provide the service. Gregory will sign an informed consent, based on his informed decision. Any regrets after that will fall on his own shoulders since the Dr. did his due diligence in explaining the procedure at length. 2. I don't think there is anything morally problematic about the surgery or Gregory's request to have it done if that is truly how he feels. The moral dilemma I could foresee is if he lies about it in the future to some woman who desperately wants a family and he will not be able to. However, it seems he is selfish and would not want to marry or want to be with a woman who wanted children anyway. The other problem I have is him convincing a variety of women to have sex with him unprotected since he will be "sterile". Unfortunately, many women would probably fall for this and give in to him, opening themselves up to STD's. If he did that much research on his vasectomy, hopefully he is well versed on the problem of STD's as well and will use protection. Personally, I would do the surgery too, but only after explaining in great detail the permanent effects of the surgery. I would explain to him that given his young age, he may change his mind in the future and would try to convince him to wait longer. After making sure he heard all the reasons to wait and not have the surgery vs to have it, I would ultimately do what he wanted. After all, he knows himself better than anyone, so who I am to try to make the decision for him?
I feel that Gregory X is a grown adult at the age of 25 years old and that he is old enough to make the decision for himself to become sterile with a vasectomy or not. I feel that even though Dr. H may have his own opinions regarding the surgery with Gregory being young and single with no children I feel that he still needs to proceed with his wishes if this is truly what he is consenting to do. I do think that Dr. H is able to give Gregory his opinion but not try to persuade him either way. This is solely Gregory's decision. With this being said, Now days if he would want the vasectomy reversed he may do that if he decided at a later time to have a child. I do not think there is anything morally problematic about Gregory X's request.
I agree with you Andrea! I believe he is old enough to make his own decisions as to why he wants the vasectomy. Just because he is young, doesn't mean he isn't mature enough to know what he wants in his life.
I also agree totally with you Andrea. Especially since with today's medicine he could possibly have it reversed if he so chooses. I also like the adoption idea.
I agree with you there is nothing morally problematic with Gregory X decision. He is being smart about what he wants in life. He is only taking action before something happens. So many children come into this world not wanted he is just making sure he is not one of those parents
I completely agree with you Andrea. Gregory is a grown man , free to make any decision he so chooses. I don't see a moral dilemma here. The man has simply chosen for one reason or another not to have children.
I don't believe that Gregory X's request is morally problematic. If he is alert and orient and in his right state of mind, he is an adult who should be allowed to make his own life choices. I know a few people that say they will never have children and they have good reasons. If I was Dr H I would do the surgery. I would just make sure that Gregory has all the information he needs to make an informed decision about to have the surgery. I would also recommend that Gregory attend a sex education class since he will now probably be having unprotected sex so he can protect himself from STDs. I would also make Gregory aware of the options such as reversal and freezing his sperm in case he was to ever change his mind. I myself, I would do the surgery because he was given all the information about the operations, he knows the risk and he has access to options if he changes his mind later on down the road.
Elizabeth, Great idea to freeze the sperm just in case, and maybe sell if he's still hard up for money in the future, ha! He definitely seems informed, I think he should verbalize it back to the Dr. to be clear he understands. Hopefully he has options later, but with the changes in healthcare, I can see that becoming an elective non covered surgery that would require out of pocket cost. St. E will not do vasectomies due to religious beliefs on birth control, not sure if they would reverse either.
Elizabeth, Great idea to freeze the sperm just in case, and maybe sell if he's still hard up for money in the future, ha! He definitely seems informed, I think he should verbalize it back to the Dr. to be clear he understands. Hopefully he has options later, but with the changes in healthcare, I can see that becoming an elective non covered surgery that would require out of pocket cost. St. E will not do vasectomies due to religious beliefs on birth control, not sure if they would reverse either.
If Gregory is an educated man, of his right mind, and has done his due diligence with his research would he really need counseling or a psyche evaluation. I would hope that the Dr. could decide that with the office visit prior to the surgery. If the Dr. thought he needed one or both prior to surgery would Gregory be able to afford it? Optimistically speaking the social worker would help him with these needs so he could make his best decision and follow through with his surgery.
Gregory x is a grown adult at the age of 25 and able to make his own decisions. It is not a decision that he has made overnight. He has told his dr. That he has thought about this for several years. He has even said that it will decrease the risk of birth control issues for the woman he loves. We as medical professionals know that him getting a vasectomy does not help in the case of std's but with the increase risk of certain birth control methods for women he has made this another reason for him to have the vasectomy. I think the DR. sould do the surgery. It is not for us medical professionals to push our beliefs on anyone. We may give advice,answer questions and guide them toward an educated decision but that is it. We should respect pt's wishes. Gregory is alert and oriented and of sound mind and able to make his own decisions. With vasectomy' being reversible now I really don't see what the big deal is. If he and his partner later wanted children down the road they could have it reversed or adopt children. The only reason I would think this was morally problematic would be if he didn't disclose the information about the vacesectomy with his future wife.
I like your comment about disclosing this to his future wife. Most people know whether or not they want children and it could definitely be a deal breaker for a woman if her heart is set of having children and the risk that he may not be able to provide that.
I agree that Gregory X should explicitly discuss with his potential wife that he has no desire to have biological children. This discussion should be presented before marriage and his significant other has a right to know before a legal commitment to someone. We see to frequently in society that people have children because “it’s the norm” or “hiding behind the real truth” such as being homosexual. Everyone is unique and should be provided an equal opportunity exercise their wishes.
I understand Dr. H concern to perform the vasectomy on Gregory X. He is a 25 year old male, never had children, and wanting a vasectomy. As health care professionals, we have to put our personal morals, values, and beliefs aside respect the patient’s wishes within reason. Physicians have an obligation to discuss with their patients the benefits, risk, and outcomes for their services. In the United States, we are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. This case study did not state that Gregory X at the age of 25 was deemed mentally incompetent and unable to make decisions for self therefore; he has a right to exercise his human rights. I agree with my classmates that a psych evaluation would be beneficial in this case to make sure the patient is fully aware of the outcomes. In addition, the psych professional can assess the patient to explore what is the underlining reason for the desire to have a vasectomy such as finances, chronic disease diagnosis, genetic mutations, and etc.
So this case is about Gregory, a 25 year old unmarried, childless man who, after years of thought decides to have a vasectomy. He goes to a big hospital, because of his lack of funds, and asks Dr. H to perform the surgery. I believe after Dr. H speaks with Gregory and allows him to express his thoughts on his decision he should follow through with the surgery. As vasectomies can be reversed, in most cases, he could possibly change his mind in the future if he wanted to. I'm sure counceling can be encouraged as well as the psyche evaluation, but if he is limited on money he will probably decline on those offers. He seems to have put a lot of thought into this decision and we should respect that and follow through with the surgery. The moral issue that might arise is not telling his love up front he has had a vasectomy and does not want children. I would hope that he has put thought into that also
There definitely is a moral issue if he were not to tell his future spouse early in their relationship that he did not want children, and that he had already became sterile from the elective vasectomy. He would certainly need to be up front about this in his relationships. It would not be an end to a relationship necessarily, not all people want to have children. He would just have to find the right match!
I think there is somebody out there for everybody, so he would definitely have to find the right match. Some people do not want children, and to have them because it's "normal" would be morally wrong. Doing that creates resentment and then abuse could come into the picture. I commend him for taking the initiative.
Gregory has indicated that he has given sterilization several years of thought. He has gone as far as to think about the possible risks for women with the use of contraceptions. For a 25 year old man to take into consideration how a woman is affected leads me to believe that he has likely given thought to sterilization. I would go forward with planning for the vasectomy but I would ask him to meet with a counselor to confirm his decision. This would give a counselor an opportunity to ask questions that Gregory may not have considered and give some time for additional reflective thinking. If he is certain that he wants the vasectomy, a month or so longer to speak with a counselor should not be an issue. A possible problem with this scenario is the length of time for Gregory to get in to see a counselor. If he is utilizing a clinic there may be a significant wait time for the counselor. If this were the case I would suggest employee assistance with his employer if one existed or ask him to speak with someone with whom he was comfortable, for example a sibling or a friend.
I think that the physician should accede to Gregory’s request if he insists on moving forward with the vasectomy. He indicates that he has thought about sterilization for several years. I think there should be thorough explanation of the procedure. While Gregory indicates he is sure that he does not want children, it should be explained to him that even though vasectomies can be reversed today, there is no guarantee that a reversal would be successful.
Personally I don’t believe that there is anything morally problematic with Gregory’s request. He is taking responsibility for his future. The physician is responsible for making sure that the patient is aware of the procedure, risks, and potential problems. Gregory is an adult and is capable of making decisions for himself.
A scenario that could be considered morally problematic would be If the physician refuses to grant Gregory's wishes for a vasectomy after being deemed mentally competent. This is a brave choice and demonstrates a good example of responsibility for a young man at 25 years old to find a physician he could afford, ask for the procedure, and follow through the steps to have the procedure completed. He may have an underlining cause why he decided the vasectomy was necessary and doesn't want to disclose that information. I assume he is being true to himself and exercising his rights as a US citizen.
I think he is trying to be proactive in his own life. I don't know that there is anything morally wrong with him making decisions that affect his own life. What if he never gets married? His decision to have or not have children should be his own. In terms of affording the vasectomy, I am not sure what the clinic rates are or if they're free, but he should not expect assistance for something that is elective. He should have to save his money if this is truly a procedure he wants.
The only opposing argument that I can think of is catholic religion does not approve of vasectomies or any type of birth control, the reason St. Elizabeth does not provide any of these services. I personally think this man is very capable of making his own decision and should be given the opportunity to have this done if he can afford to have this elective procedure.
I agree Kelly. If he is choosing this elective procedure then he better be able to pay for it. Otherwise he needs to save and maybe that will give him time to make sure the vasectomy is the right choice for him.
I don't know what the rules are on permanent sterilization, but as we know, insurances now must have coverage for birth control. I also don't know what gets paid for with abortions, but in my heart I'd rather pay for sterilizations than abortions. Not sure we want to go down that road now:)
Gregory X is a 25 year old wanting a vasectomy. I do not think this is morally problematic. He is an adult who has contemplated this for several years, and has given it much thought. The fact that a vasectomy can be reversed is always a option. He wants to take this upon himself, instead of his future wife taking birth control pills or having surgery and the risks that go along with it. He may get married someday and change his mind about children. (I thought I was done having kids for many years and thought about getting a tubal and 3and1/2 years ago got baby fever again. That's why I have a 16, 14, and 3 year old!!) So you never know what may happen. I think Dr. H should accede with the vasectomy as long as Gregory X is healthy and is aware of the risks.
I agree. If the client is alert and oriented and aware of the risks and possible complications then it should be his right to proceed with the vasectomy. If he decides to have a reversal in the future then that is his choice as well.
I feel that Gregory is completely capable of making his own decisions. He is of age , and from the brief description seems to be of sound mind. What if there is some underlying event or issue in Gregory's past we know nothing of that is the reason for the desire for the vasectomy? And who says it is up to us to decide whether Gregory has children in the future or not.? I don't feel like there is anything morally problematic with Gregory's request. There is no law that dictates that everyone must have children. If it is truly his wish, I feel like the doctor has a responsibility to fulfil this reasonable request,
Gregory X is an adult and should be able to make decisions on what to do with his body. Should he be able to afford it and pay for it on his own?...yes. This is an elective procedure done by a specialist and the client should be able to cover the cost. As for the moral aspect, that would depend on your religion since many religions are against sterilization. If I were the doctor I would perform the procedure on the patient as long as he could pay.
Gregory X is a mature 25 year old adult who should be able to make his own decisions and if he is wanting an elective procedure he needs to be able to pay for it as well.
I do believe you should be able to make your own decision about what you want to do with you own body. But as far a moral value and religion is concerned I don't think that a religion should be able to dictate what is moral for someone.
I feel Gregory X is not doing anything wrong by requesting to have an elective vasectomy. It is his choice and know one should be able to tell him he can't have it. When I read this it sound refreshing that such a young men was taking control of his sexual life and thinking of the big picture. If he feels he never wants children thats ok it is his life. If down the road he finds himself in a relationship where she wants children there are options for them.
I also found the fact that he brought the fact that birth control for the woman comes with certain risks and he didn't want "any woman he loves" to have those risks. Responsibility on many levels. That type of insight makes me think he would be forthcoming with information on his inability to bear children early in a relationship.
I think after the initial consultation and giving Gregory the information and risk of the procedure Dr. H should proceed with the procedure if that is what Gregory wants. I do believe by the age of 25 he is mature enough to make that decision. I do believe that most people in society think that it is just human nature to want children. Not everyone wants to be a parent. Not everyone has that parental instinct.
I agree and this is a personal decision. He should have the ability as to have the surgery as long as he has been educated regarding the procedure and its possibility of permanence.
Greg should be given education on the procedure and on the reversal procedure, since that could be a reality for him in the future. Having him speak to a therapist prior to the procedure should be done as well. His thoughts and wants should be taken seriously. He is young and has not found the one to settle down with, but that doesn't make him incapable of making his own decisions. Marriage and parenthood isn't for everyone.
Beth I think you hit the nail on the head with your comment that his situation does not render his decision invalid. There are children who at the age of 10 say they know what they want to be, work toward that dream and end up doing and loving what they wanted. Then there are some who are in their 30's and have no idea which direction they want to steer their future.
Many of the cases seem to leave out information and a few questions unanswered. In this case, I think the information that he cannot afford the procedure elsewhere is in fact too much information. His wants or desires about his future are not specific to his economic status. That being said, I would have to wonder if he is in a relationship and if so, did she have any input? For those of us with children, MOST of the time in seems impossible that others would not want to experience parenthood. There are many who are happy and fulfilled who are childless.
So yes, I feel Dr. H should perform the procedure. Again, I would have to believe that the clinic does have some sort councelling prior to a sterilization procedure. It sounds as if Dr. H at least had a discussion with Gregory X about the implications both immediate and long term. We all make decisions that affect the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, some of those decisions we regret and some send us on a path of joy and satisfaction. If we are honest with ourselves, I'm guessing each of us could come up with an example of a decision we made that someone warned us would be a poor one. What we do with the result of those decisions is what makes us the people we are today.
Gregory X should have his request granted and have a vasectomy. He is a consenting adult. We cannot control peoples lives but need to allow them to make their own decisions. He is of free will and if educated prior to the procedure should be allowed to have the surgery. There may be issues in the future regarding his decision but those are his mistakes to make.
Gregory is 25 years old, an adult, and able to make his own decisions. The piece that is up for debate for me is the fact that he is unmarried and without children at this point. People think they know what they want and when/if they meet a special someone sometimes they have a change of heart.
ReplyDeleteSince vasectomies can now be reversed I would not be against a man deciding to do this. I do however think he should first undergo some sort of counseling session similar to people that want to have a sex change operations or weight loss surgeries since a decision like this can affect your mental health. If after an evaluation he is approved then I don’t see any problem with a man like Gregory cannot chose to have an elective vasectomy. The fact that Gregory cannot even afford the procedure makes me believe that he is in no position to be able to financially take responsibility of a child.
I’m sure there is a chance that a vasectomy cannot be reversed and a man would be left permanently sterile, but a woman can choose to have procedures done to prevent pregnancies which can also lead to sterilization. The ball has always been in the woman’s court to prevent pregnancies, besides the use of condoms for a man. I think it’s time a man can make that decision for himself and take charge of his reproductive health. If done the road he indeed is sterile and he wishes to have children, adoption is always an option.
Shelley,
DeleteThat is a very good point about counseling. A different perspective from someone other than a health care professional might be more meaningful to him, That is a big decision to make alone and he should definitely talk to more people and seek more opinions. The whole financial thing threw me a little too, I'm not sure why this surgery is such a priority to him to have right now if he is having financial difficulties. Seems he could save money and wait longer to make this decision. However, I agree too that it is just as much a right for him to be able to make this decision for himself as a woman who wants the same thing.
Shelley,
DeleteThat is a very good point about counseling. A different perspective from someone other than a health care professional might be more meaningful to him, That is a big decision to make alone and he should definitely talk to more people and seek more opinions. The whole financial thing threw me a little too, I'm not sure why this surgery is such a priority to him to have right now if he is having financial difficulties. Seems he could save money and wait longer to make this decision. However, I agree too that it is just as much a right for him to be able to make this decision for himself as a woman who wants the same thing.
I also agree with you Shelly with the counseling piece! That is a great idea to effectively evaluate his reasons and thoughts on his elective vasectomy. And after completing this he stills feels stronger about having it done, than he is free to do so. The fact with not even having the money for the procedure elsewhere is also a good point. At least he is smart enough to realize he is not able to afford a child at this point!
DeleteI also agree with you guys! The counseling piece is a great idea. I think the MD should also make sure it explains everything in great detail; risk and benefits. I think he should also attend sex education class related to STD if he is going to be having unprotected sex. The MD should also give him options as to choices such as reverse and possible freezing his sperm.
DeleteGreat ideas girls about counseling and freezing the sperm. He definitely isn't financially ready for a child if he can't afford the surgery. Everybody should be able to decide if they want children or not. i know that I have seen plenty of people that shouldn't have kids. At least he is making a conscious decision about his future.
DeleteElizabeth, I like the idea of freezing the sperm as well. It could be a definite alternative for the future if he and his spouse were to decide on having children.
DeleteI also agree counseling and sex education should be offered. Gregory X is making a decision about his future and would benifit from these things.
Deletewhile I think counseling could be offered , but it almost makes it sound as if Gregory is somehow abnormal because he has chosen not to procreate. I think a decision like this should be his and his alone. Who are we to question the reasoning behind it ?
DeleteI agree that counseling in the way of a video or online class should be required. The MD could then say that the patient was educated and able to make an informed decision.
DeleteIn this case study, Gregory X is a 25 y/o male wanting a vasectomy. He is unmarried, has no kids, and is not in a relationship it seems. He feels this will be an asset to any woman he is in love with in the future, to not worry about birth control. He has thought about this for years and doesn't ever want to be a parent. Dr. H. doesn't want to perform the surgery as he thinks Gregory will regret it later when he does meet his future wife.
ReplyDelete1. I do think Dr. H. should perform the surgery despite his reservations. It is his duty to explain the surgery to him and that it is possibly irreversible should he decide to change his mind. Gregory seems to have done his research and has thought this through. He is now a customer, and in order to deliver good customer service, Dr. H. should provide the service. Gregory will sign an informed consent, based on his informed decision. Any regrets after that will fall on his own shoulders since the Dr. did his due diligence in explaining the procedure at length.
2. I don't think there is anything morally problematic about the surgery or Gregory's request to have it done if that is truly how he feels. The moral dilemma I could foresee is if he lies about it in the future to some woman who desperately wants a family and he will not be able to. However, it seems he is selfish and would not want to marry or want to be with a woman who wanted children anyway. The other problem I have is him convincing a variety of women to have sex with him unprotected since he will be "sterile". Unfortunately, many women would probably fall for this and give in to him, opening themselves up to STD's. If he did that much research on his vasectomy, hopefully he is well versed on the problem of STD's as well and will use protection.
Personally, I would do the surgery too, but only after explaining in great detail the permanent effects of the surgery. I would explain to him that given his young age, he may change his mind in the future and would try to convince him to wait longer. After making sure he heard all the reasons to wait and not have the surgery vs to have it, I would ultimately do what he wanted. After all, he knows himself better than anyone, so who I am to try to make the decision for him?
I feel that Gregory X is a grown adult at the age of 25 years old and that he is old enough to make the decision for himself to become sterile with a vasectomy or not. I feel that even though Dr. H may have his own opinions regarding the surgery with Gregory being young and single with no children I feel that he still needs to proceed with his wishes if this is truly what he is consenting to do. I do think that Dr. H is able to give Gregory his opinion but not try to persuade him either way. This is solely Gregory's decision. With this being said, Now days if he would want the vasectomy reversed he may do that if he decided at a later time to have a child. I do not think there is anything morally problematic about Gregory X's request.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Andrea! I believe he is old enough to make his own decisions as to why he wants the vasectomy. Just because he is young, doesn't mean he isn't mature enough to know what he wants in his life.
DeleteI also agree totally with you Andrea. Especially since with today's medicine he could possibly have it reversed if he so chooses. I also like the adoption idea.
DeleteI agree with you there is nothing morally problematic with Gregory X decision. He is being smart about what he wants in life. He is only taking action before something happens. So many children come into this world not wanted he is just making sure he is not one of those parents
DeleteI completely agree with you Andrea. Gregory is a grown man , free to make any decision he so chooses. I don't see a moral dilemma here. The man has simply chosen for one reason or another not to have children.
DeleteI don't believe that Gregory X's request is morally problematic. If he is alert and orient and in his right state of mind, he is an adult who should be allowed to make his own life choices. I know a few people that say they will never have children and they have good reasons. If I was Dr H I would do the surgery. I would just make sure that Gregory has all the information he needs to make an informed decision about to have the surgery. I would also recommend that Gregory attend a sex education class since he will now probably be having unprotected sex so he can protect himself from STDs. I would also make Gregory aware of the options such as reversal and freezing his sperm in case he was to ever change his mind.
ReplyDeleteI myself, I would do the surgery because he was given all the information about the operations, he knows the risk and he has access to options if he changes his mind later on down the road.
Elizabeth, Great idea to freeze the sperm just in case, and maybe sell if he's still hard up for money in the future, ha! He definitely seems informed, I think he should verbalize it back to the Dr. to be clear he understands. Hopefully he has options later, but with the changes in healthcare, I can see that becoming an elective non covered surgery that would require out of pocket cost. St. E will not do vasectomies due to religious beliefs on birth control, not sure if they would reverse either.
DeleteElizabeth, Great idea to freeze the sperm just in case, and maybe sell if he's still hard up for money in the future, ha! He definitely seems informed, I think he should verbalize it back to the Dr. to be clear he understands. Hopefully he has options later, but with the changes in healthcare, I can see that becoming an elective non covered surgery that would require out of pocket cost. St. E will not do vasectomies due to religious beliefs on birth control, not sure if they would reverse either.
DeleteIf Gregory is an educated man, of his right mind, and has done his due diligence with his research would he really need counseling or a psyche evaluation. I would hope that the Dr. could decide that with the office visit prior to the surgery. If the Dr. thought he needed one or both prior to surgery would Gregory be able to afford it? Optimistically speaking the social worker would help him with these needs so he could make his best decision and follow through with his surgery.
DeleteGregory x is a grown adult at the age of 25 and able to make his own decisions.
ReplyDeleteIt is not a decision that he has made overnight. He has told his dr. That he has thought about this for several years. He has even said that it will decrease the risk of birth control issues for the woman he loves. We as medical professionals know that him getting a vasectomy does not help in the case of std's but with the increase risk of certain birth control methods for women he has made this another reason for him to have the vasectomy. I think the DR. sould do the surgery. It is not for us medical professionals to push our beliefs on anyone. We may give advice,answer questions and guide them toward an educated decision but that is it. We should respect pt's wishes. Gregory is alert and oriented and of sound mind and able to make his own decisions. With vasectomy' being reversible now I really don't see what the big deal is. If he and his partner later wanted children down the road they could have it reversed or adopt children. The only reason I would think this was morally problematic would be if he didn't disclose the information about the vacesectomy with his future wife.
I like your comment about disclosing this to his future wife. Most people know whether or not they want children and it could definitely be a deal breaker for a woman if her heart is set of having children and the risk that he may not be able to provide that.
DeleteI agree that Gregory X should explicitly discuss with his potential wife that he has no desire to have biological children. This discussion should be presented before marriage and his significant other has a right to know before a legal commitment to someone. We see to frequently in society that people have children because “it’s the norm” or “hiding behind the real truth” such as being homosexual. Everyone is unique and should be provided an equal opportunity exercise their wishes.
DeleteI understand Dr. H concern to perform the vasectomy on Gregory X. He is a 25 year old male, never had children, and wanting a vasectomy. As health care professionals, we have to put our personal morals, values, and beliefs aside respect the patient’s wishes within reason. Physicians have an obligation to discuss with their patients the benefits, risk, and outcomes for their services. In the United States, we are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. This case study did not state that Gregory X at the age of 25 was deemed mentally incompetent and unable to make decisions for self therefore; he has a right to exercise his human rights. I agree with my classmates that a psych evaluation would be beneficial in this case to make sure the patient is fully aware of the outcomes. In addition, the psych professional can assess the patient to explore what is the underlining reason for the desire to have a vasectomy such as finances, chronic disease diagnosis, genetic mutations, and etc.
ReplyDeleteSo this case is about Gregory, a 25 year old unmarried, childless man who, after years of thought decides to have a vasectomy. He goes to a big hospital, because of his lack of funds, and asks Dr. H to perform the surgery. I believe after Dr. H speaks with Gregory and allows him to express his thoughts on his decision he should follow through with the surgery. As vasectomies can be reversed, in most cases, he could possibly change his mind in the future if he wanted to. I'm sure counceling can be encouraged as well as the psyche evaluation, but if he is limited on money he will probably decline on those offers. He seems to have put a lot of thought into this decision and we should respect that and follow through with the surgery. The moral issue that might arise is not telling his love up front he has had a vasectomy and does not want children. I would hope that he has put thought into that also
ReplyDeleteThere definitely is a moral issue if he were not to tell his future spouse early in their relationship that he did not want children, and that he had already became sterile from the elective vasectomy. He would certainly need to be up front about this in his relationships. It would not be an end to a relationship necessarily, not all people want to have children. He would just have to find the right match!
DeleteI think there is somebody out there for everybody, so he would definitely have to find the right match. Some people do not want children, and to have them because it's "normal" would be morally wrong. Doing that creates resentment and then abuse could come into the picture. I commend him for taking the initiative.
DeleteGregory has indicated that he has given sterilization several years of thought. He has gone as far as to think about the possible risks for women with the use of contraceptions. For a 25 year old man to take into consideration how a woman is affected leads me to believe that he has likely given thought to sterilization. I would go forward with planning for the vasectomy but I would ask him to meet with a counselor to confirm his decision. This would give a counselor an opportunity to ask questions that Gregory may not have considered and give some time for additional reflective thinking. If he is certain that he wants the vasectomy, a month or so longer to speak with a counselor should not be an issue. A possible problem with this scenario is the length of time for Gregory to get in to see a counselor. If he is utilizing a clinic there may be a significant wait time for the counselor. If this were the case I would suggest employee assistance with his employer if one existed or ask him to speak with someone with whom he was comfortable, for example a sibling or a friend.
ReplyDeleteI think that the physician should accede to Gregory’s request if he insists on moving forward with the vasectomy. He indicates that he has thought about sterilization for several years. I think there should be thorough explanation of the procedure. While Gregory indicates he is sure that he does not want children, it should be explained to him that even though vasectomies can be reversed today, there is no guarantee that a reversal would be successful.
Personally I don’t believe that there is anything morally problematic with Gregory’s request. He is taking responsibility for his future. The physician is responsible for making sure that the patient is aware of the procedure, risks, and potential problems. Gregory is an adult and is capable of making decisions for himself.
A scenario that could be considered morally problematic would be If the physician refuses to grant Gregory's wishes for a vasectomy after being deemed mentally competent. This is a brave choice and demonstrates a good example of responsibility for a young man at 25 years old to find a physician he could afford, ask for the procedure, and follow through the steps to have the procedure completed. He may have an underlining cause why he decided the vasectomy was necessary and doesn't want to disclose that information. I assume he is being true to himself and exercising his rights as a US citizen.
DeleteI think he is trying to be proactive in his own life. I don't know that there is anything morally wrong with him making decisions that affect his own life. What if he never gets married? His decision to have or not have children should be his own. In terms of affording the vasectomy, I am not sure what the clinic rates are or if they're free, but he should not expect assistance for something that is elective. He should have to save his money if this is truly a procedure he wants.
ReplyDeleteThe only opposing argument that I can think of is catholic religion does not approve of vasectomies or any type of birth control, the reason St. Elizabeth does not provide any of these services. I personally think this man is very capable of making his own decision and should be given the opportunity to have this done if he can afford to have this elective procedure.
DeleteI agree Kelly. If he is choosing this elective procedure then he better be able to pay for it. Otherwise he needs to save and maybe that will give him time to make sure the vasectomy is the right choice for him.
DeleteI don't know what the rules are on permanent sterilization, but as we know, insurances now must have coverage for birth control. I also don't know what gets paid for with abortions, but in my heart I'd rather pay for sterilizations than abortions. Not sure we want to go down that road now:)
DeleteGregory X is a 25 year old wanting a vasectomy. I do not think this is morally problematic. He is an adult who has contemplated this for several years, and has given it much thought. The fact that a vasectomy can be reversed is always a option. He wants to take this upon himself, instead of his future wife taking birth control pills or having surgery and the risks that go along with it. He may get married someday and change his mind about children. (I thought I was done having kids for many years and thought about getting a tubal and 3and1/2 years ago got baby fever again. That's why I have a 16, 14, and 3 year old!!) So you never know what may happen. I think Dr. H should accede with the vasectomy as long as Gregory X is healthy and is aware of the risks.
ReplyDeleteI agree. If the client is alert and oriented and aware of the risks and possible complications then it should be his right to proceed with the vasectomy. If he decides to have a reversal in the future then that is his choice as well.
DeleteI feel that Gregory is completely capable of making his own decisions. He is of age , and from the brief description seems to be of sound mind. What if there is some underlying event or issue in Gregory's past we know nothing of that is the reason for the desire for the vasectomy? And who says it is up to us to decide whether Gregory has children in the future or not.? I don't feel like there is anything morally problematic with Gregory's request. There is no law that dictates that everyone must have children. If it is truly his wish, I feel like the doctor has a responsibility to fulfil this reasonable request,
ReplyDeleteGregory X is an adult and should be able to make decisions on what to do with his body. Should he be able to afford it and pay for it on his own?...yes. This is an elective procedure done by a specialist and the client should be able to cover the cost. As for the moral aspect, that would depend on your religion since many religions are against sterilization. If I were the doctor I would perform the procedure on the patient as long as he could pay.
ReplyDeleteGregory X is a mature 25 year old adult who should be able to make his own decisions and if he is wanting an elective procedure he needs to be able to pay for it as well.
DeleteI do believe you should be able to make your own decision about what you want to do with you own body. But as far a moral value and religion is concerned I don't think that a religion should be able to dictate what is moral for someone.
DeleteI feel Gregory X is not doing anything wrong by requesting to have an elective vasectomy. It is his choice and know one should be able to tell him he can't have it. When I read this it sound refreshing that such a young men was taking control of his sexual life and thinking of the big picture. If he feels he never wants children thats ok it is his life. If down the road he finds himself in a relationship where she wants children there are options for them.
ReplyDeleteI agree Shirley it is a "refreshing" and responsible thing for a young man to express what he does and does not want.
DeleteI also found the fact that he brought the fact that birth control for the woman comes with certain risks and he didn't want "any woman he loves" to have those risks. Responsibility on many levels. That type of insight makes me think he would be forthcoming with information on his inability to bear children early in a relationship.
DeleteI think after the initial consultation and giving Gregory the information and risk of the procedure Dr. H should proceed with the procedure if that is what Gregory wants. I do believe by the age of 25 he is mature enough to make that decision. I do believe that most people in society think that it is just human nature to want children. Not everyone wants to be a parent. Not everyone has that parental instinct.
ReplyDeleteI agree and this is a personal decision. He should have the ability as to have the surgery as long as he has been educated regarding the procedure and its possibility of permanence.
DeleteGreg should be given education on the procedure and on the reversal procedure, since that could be a reality for him in the future. Having him speak to a therapist prior to the procedure should be done as well. His thoughts and wants should be taken seriously. He is young and has not found the one to settle down with, but that doesn't make him incapable of making his own decisions. Marriage and parenthood isn't for everyone.
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DeleteBeth I think you hit the nail on the head with your comment that his situation does not render his decision invalid. There are children who at the age of 10 say they know what they want to be, work toward that dream and end up doing and loving what they wanted. Then there are some who are in their 30's and have no idea which direction they want to steer their future.
DeleteMany of the cases seem to leave out information and a few questions unanswered. In this case, I think the information that he cannot afford the procedure elsewhere is in fact too much information. His wants or desires about his future are not specific to his economic status. That being said, I would have to wonder if he is in a relationship and if so, did she have any input? For those of us with children, MOST of the time in seems impossible that others would not want to experience parenthood. There are many who are happy and fulfilled who are childless.
ReplyDeleteSo yes, I feel Dr. H should perform the procedure. Again, I would have to believe that the clinic does have some sort councelling prior to a sterilization procedure. It sounds as if Dr. H at least had a discussion with Gregory X about the implications both immediate and long term. We all make decisions that affect the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, some of those decisions we regret and some send us on a path of joy and satisfaction. If we are honest with ourselves, I'm guessing each of us could come up with an example of a decision we made that someone warned us would be a poor one. What we do with the result of those decisions is what makes us the people we are today.
Gregory X should have his request granted and have a vasectomy. He is a consenting adult. We cannot control peoples lives but need to allow them to make their own decisions. He is of free will and if educated prior to the procedure should be allowed to have the surgery. There may be issues in the future regarding his decision but those are his mistakes to make.
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