Autism Spectrum Disorder Patient - Essay Example

Article, Health Sciences and Medicine Instruction Article, Health Sciences and Medicine According to Nunan and Yenicioglu, informed consent compels a researcher to disclose all necessary information to a patient concerning the consequences of research. It demands that a medical practitioner must allow patients to make informed choices to accept or refuse treatment. It instigates from both legal and ethical rights that the patient have an entitlement. The patient deserved right to consent to what is done during the research. It entails consideration of all ethical perspectives the health care provider has to include the patient in his or her health care. Informed consent is an essential and fundamental right of a patient to agree to a medical treatment. Ethical principle of autonomy protects a patient’s fundamental right to consent for conducting research. The consent involves explaining the proposed procedure to the patient including the facts that there are potential risks and alternatives. Informed consent to research is the process of agreeing to participate in a research study basing on access to all the relevant information easy to understand about what participation means (Nunan & Yenicioglu, 2013). The consenting person must come into terms with possible risks and benefits that may result from the study. Getting consent help in ensuring that there is no coercing of participants to participate. In cases where the participant cannot digest, the information well or make an informed decision then researchers must be careful while getting informed consent. The complexity of multifactorial health conditions like autism raises many ethical and counseling challenges while trying to get consent to research. Any forms of chronic illness always represent a serious challenge not only to the afflicted individual but also to the individual’s family (Amaral, Geschwind & Dawson, 2011). Autism often associated with extremely disruptive antisocial behavior. Because autism has no physical disability that is visible, the public will always associate such condition to odd behavior. Disclosing health information to autistic persons and their family members is important in helping them find best management measures to handle the situation. Consent to research is essential in preparing the family members before disclosing their conditions to the public. Informed consent on autism poses risks to the autistic patient or family. Genetic reduction risks may include genetic reductionism, which may affect the patient or family members with understanding of high chances of other members developing autism because of specific gene mutations (Amaral, Geschwind & Dawson, 2011). Fatalism risk may results from misinterpretations because of one member of a family being autistic. Other members are also likely to develop autistic conditions. Patient or family members may fail to consent to research because of demoralization believing that condition is disgusting to go public. Many autistic individuals deny their conditions. Consent to research by an autistic individual or family member is subject to several challenges. Many people with an autistic condition or the family members will not be willing to consent to research believing that opening up to the public about their condition or the condition of one of them as research specimen will bring about misconception amongst population around them (Amaral, Geschwind & Dawson, 2011). Autistic patients or their families mostly risk the stigmatization a feeling that others look down upon them. An antisocial behavior is among of the primary symptoms of autism; most persons suffering from ASD lack proper social behavior. They experience feelings of isolation. The family member will alienate from others. Pharmaceutical reductionism risk, Autism condition has no medical treatment; consent to research will most likely trigger patient or family to seek medication. References Amaral, D., Geschwind, D., & Dawson, G. (2011). Autism Spectrum Disorders. Oxford: Oxford University Press, USA. Nunan, D., & Yenicioglu, B. (2013). Informed, uninformed and participative consent in social media research. International Journal of Market Research, 55 (6), 791-808. doi:10.2501/IJMR-2013-067 Read More