Introduction
Social policy is regarded as a science primarily concerned with how the society responds to social needs of its members and also how the members struggle to provide an atmosphere favorable for others. Social policy touches on matters concerning health care systems, inequality and even criminal justice and how challenges that come with addressing these issues can be resolved. In the health care and nursing area, there exist many challenges worldwide that to a vast extent have contributed to poor or no services to the vulnerable in the society. This paper explores on how morbidly obese people may be refused admission to facilities without bariatric equipment.
Issue in the Nursing Literature
A vivid example is the issue of morbid obesity in the United States. Morbid obesity is a severe health problem that is characterized by interference of basic mortar functions such as walking. There is a greater chance for morbidly obese patients to acquire other illnesses such as osteoarthritis, reflux disease, sleep apnea and even cancer. It is often diagnosed through examination of the body mass index of a suspected patient. The body mass index, denoted by the acronym BMI, is realized by determining the ratio of a patient’s height to that of their weight. If it exceeds 35 BMI then the patient is likely to be morbidly obese, but when it is about 25 or less, one is considered free from obesity (Haslam & James, 2005).
Usually, obesity originates from medical conditions like Cushing’s disease, hypothalamic lesions, hypothyroidism or other respiratory conditions. Currently, obese patients are undergoing tough times due to controversial health care policies and decisions. Sadly, noticeable increase in the number of obese patients and bariatric admissions to health care centers is a worrying trend. While some would argue that morbidly obese patients should not be given access to treatment services without bariatric facilities, it remains a major challenge to the healthcare sector if that school of thought is to dominate. This would be against the principle and the ethics of providing health care services to all no matter what the background or condition of a patient is.
When the moment restrictions are placed on morbidly obese individuals barring them from being freely admitted to certain facilities without bariatric equipment, then it is termed as an infringement of the rights of human beings. Again, it would be an act to be frowned upon by the society, since it is against the fundamental rights of individuals and the Hippocratic Oath, which requires nursing professionals to use dietetic measures in order to help the sick without inflicting pain or doing any injustice to them.
One of the key issues, that need to be addressed before a bariatric patient is placed under the care of a nurse or any health care program, is to consider psychological preparation prior to being admitted. This will ensure that patients are handled safely. Nurses will also be in a position to avoid injuries that may occur during the process of caring for such patients. After the admission, bariatric patients need to be monitored frequently in order to record their level of involvement in ambulation or even repositioning.
Most healthcare givers have a challenge of determining the best handling algorithms, which help in determining the best mode of transfer. Patient handling algorithms help in the facilitation of problematic issues, when determining the quality of equipment required by a patient, level of assistance and, most importantly, the staff actions (Barness, Opitz & Gilbert, 2007).
Future Implications
Additionally, since there is an increase in bariatric patients each day across the globe, there is a lot of demand for increased bariatric equipment in order to meet the needs of such patients. It is predicted that in future there will be mechanically powered devices, which will ensure that the sick are properly cared for. Thanks to technological advancement at present, there has been progress made in the US and other developed nations in the way bedding facilities with special elements such as pneumatic tilt are finding their way into the health care sector to help cater for the bariatric patients (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001).
Presently, about 27% of the US population is obese, majority of which comprise patients who are severely obese, hence, are bariatric patients. Obesity is, however, more pronounced in women as compared to men. Majority of men are overweight. Studies also show that obesity is more common among Native Americans, African Americans and the Hawaiians. Obesity cases among the Hispanics are insignificant (Sturm, 2007).
If the medical practitioners do nothing about the present situation, then American population will comprise less productive citizens who will burden the government even more, hence, plunging the country into serious economic crisis. At the family level, for instance, condition of bariatric patients in the US has been shifting from bad to worse each day, since there is no proper care, especially owing to the fact that majority of them face mobility challenge. Most of the bariatric patients often require assistance with their daily activities, a thing which sometimes is not within their reach. During their hospital stay, bariatric patients are even more vulnerable and prone to injury due to their size.
Although obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths, most of the societies in the US and other parts of the world still stigmatize the obese. Most surprisingly, some parts of the world still view obesity as a sign of richness, fertility and good health. Although in some jurisdictions policies related to health are majorly influenced by perceived role and duty to care for the less fortunate, stigmatization of the morbidly obese has been a hindrance factor to the reduction of the cases of obesity. Instead, concentration and much effort have been placed on other health related issues, such as cancer, HIV and maternal mortality, thus, causing wide disparity in access to better health services in morbidly obese patients, despite the fact that sound health is a basic human right (Brown, Cueto &Fee, 2006).
There is considerable controversy in the US with regard to health care policies that has caused much havoc to morbidly obese patients. The major bone of contention has been the extent to which the government should be held liable for the health status of the citizens and under what circumstances should the government fully pay for the cost of health care services of obese patients. This comes about even as the global indicator for showing governments’ concern for their citizens’ health, which is depicted by how much is spent to attain better health care services to all citizens (Kereiakes & Willerson, 2004).
Management of Obesity
The issue of morbid obesity should be addressed via a wide range of measures beginning from simple to more complex processes. Since extremely obese persons do not gain much from non-surgical treatments during the process of weight loss, bariatric surgery is vital for such patients. At the moment, bariatric surgery has undergone a lot of modifications in the US. Most of the health professionals have developed two main types of bariatric surgery. The first method works under the principle of channeling food from the stomach into the digestive tract where neither fluids can neither be digested, nor can the nutrients be absorbed. This process is scientifically known as a malabsorptive procedure. The other type of surgery is known as restrictive procedure. It gives restrictions to the volume of the stomach swell while minimizing the intake of food particles. These processes help in combating morbid obesity (Kushner, 2007).
Categorically, at initial stages, simple therapy can be administered in order for an obese patient to recover from the condition. Such simple processes starts with an individual, with support from the society. Some of the strategies that are necessary in realizing an obese free society include holding campaigns that educate the public on the importance of having a society free from obesity. This should, however, be conducted carefully and professionally with assistance from health professionals. Measures such as town planning, type of food consumed within and without the vicinity of schools should be carefully observed and, most importantly, exercise should be encouraged in homes and schools. Teachers and curriculum planners need to allocate enough time for physical education so that children and adults are able to burn calories.
References
Barness, L.A., Opitz, J.M., & Gilbert, E. (December 2007). Obesity: genetic, molecular, and environmental aspects. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 143A (24), 3016–34.
Brown, T. M., Cueto, M., & Fee, E. (2006). The World Health Organization and the transition from “International” to “Global” public health. American Journal of Public Health, 96 (1), 62–72.
Haslam, D.W., & James, W.P. (2005). Obesity. Lancet, 366(9492), 1197–1209.
Kereiakes, D. J., & Willerson, J. T. (2004). US health care: Entitlement or privilege? Circulation, 109 (12), 1460–1462.
Kushner, R. (2007). Treatment of the obese patient (contemporary endocrinology). Totowa, NJ: Humana Press.
Sturm, R. (2007). Increases in morbid obesity in the USA: 2000–2005. Public Health, 121 (7), 492–6.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2001).The surgeon general’s call to action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity. Rockville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General. Web.