看護学の立場から(シンポジウム 患者の身体をどう考えるか)

抄録

Medical care is for patients themselves. In studying a subject of "How should Medical Staff Consider Patients' Bodies?", we have to remember past mistakes such as strict isolation of patients with Hansen's disease from society under the Leprosy Prevention Act and involuntary sterilization carried out against those patients without any authorization by laws. Needless to say, it is not allowed that medical staff make injury to patients' bodies or extract internal organs of patients or handicapped parsons for the convenience and benefit of persons who take care of patients and who manage hospitals. Patients' bodies must be respected. Aren't patients' bodies deemed as training subjects in education of medical students? There exists the fact that experiments were made on human bodies in clinical cases, which infringe on the human rights of patients. An attitude that focuses on only the benefit of medical staff makes it difficult to focus on the needs of patients. The worse the patients' condition becomes, the more they go on asking for relief, give an example for their lives. Moreover, the more serious the patients' condition becomes, the more difficult it is for them to ask for relief. Although patients with persistent disturbances of consciousness lose their means to communicate their intention through words or other physical expression, they continue to ask nurses and other medical staff for relief. It is desirable for nurses, being in a position closest to patients to make efforts to consider what patients are trying to ask for through their physical expression, since they unable to speak. Further more, nurses should try to notice what patients are asking for, since they are unable to communicate their intention through their physical expression. Nurses should then try to find what care is needed and administer the necessary care.