Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You continue to provide medical care to the patient
As you contemplate your choices, the Robertsons finally arrive. They are
about 10 minutes late, but you think to yourself, "At least they showed up
this time."
While you proceed with the examination, you stress to the parents that
it is extremely important that they show up to their appointments on time.
They assure you it will not happen again.
You then continue asking questions about their child's progress and the
hearing and speech exercises. As they answer your questions, you have that
nagging feeling again that they are not being entirely truthful in their answers.
You begin to feel that instead of seeing the Robertsons, you could be treating
a different patient whose parents will actively participate in all the necessary
care.
"You have to sometimes realize your limitations and realize that you need
to work with others to accomplish the goals, the clinical goals, for a patient,"
says Patrick Feeney. Feeney is a professor of audiology at a university in
Seattle.
That's when an audiologist must move on and work with patients who are
willing to be consistent in their care.
"In some cases, I'll have to say, 'You know, I'm sorry that I can't continue
to see your child because you're not upholding your end of the bargain in
the whole treatment process,'" says Alison Grimes. Grimes is the president
of the American Academy of Audiology.