Hamdi Ahmed

HLSC-H362: Legal & Regulatory Aspects in Rehab Organizations

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Click the link to view my presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12bx0u038dN_okXrO7jDKEtxb2rouS3xGCDQGWUXljrU/edit?usp=drivesdk 

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Health Care Law News Article Presentation:

Prohibiting AI Therapy in Illinois
Through completing this assignment, I learned the need for legislation to adapt to new technology in health care. Learning about Illinois’ ban

on AI therapy helped me understand how legal policies need to balance innovation and responsibility.  The new Illinois law also highlighted that while technology can help provider’s be more efficient, it should not be used to replace the empathy and expertise of licensed healthcare professionals. I also learned a lot about how different health sectors impact policies. Overall, I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of how health care laws protect providers and patients’ quality of care. 

 

Skills and Growth from

HLSC-442

In my research methods class (HLSC-442), I gained a better understanding of how research is actually used in healthcare. Before this course, I didn’t pay attention to how studies were designed or how factors like bias, sample size, and data analysis could affect the results. Now I understand that not all research is equally reliable and that it’s important to look at how a study was conducted before accepting  its findings.

 

One of the biggest things I took away from this class was becoming more comfortable reading and understanding research articles. At first, it was  confusing, but over time I got better at breaking down the information and understanding what the results meant. This is important to me as a future Physician Assistant because it I will need to use research to make clinical decisions in patient care. It also connects to my interest in maternal and infant health because many health outcomes are influenced by research and data. This course helped me see research as something practical and relevant to my future, rather than just an as done for a grade.

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Image: Qualitative vs Quantitative Chart

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SU25: Medical Decision Making Class:

Hamdi Ahmed

28 June 2025

Ethical Analysis

Background 

     Timothy Bowers, a 32 year old man and soon-to-be father, experienced a severe spinal cord injury after falling 16 feet from  a tree stand while hunting. This injury led to a spinal cord injury which made  him paralyzed from the shoulders down. After he was taken off the sedation and told about his injury and condition, he quickly conveyed that he did not want to be on life support and requested to be taken off life support. He passed away that same day, The ethical dilemma is about whether Mr Bowers should have been allowed to make such a major life decision right after the accident, while under the pressures of time and the emotional stress from a debilitating diagnosis.

      I believe that Mr Bowers should have been allowed to make the decision to turn down life saving treatment. Despite the emotional weight of the situation, he appeared to meet the requirements of decision making capacity and was supported by his family and care team. Respecting his autonomy was the correct thing to do both ethically and legally.

Arguments in Support of My Position

     One important ethical principle in this case is beneficence, which means doing what is best for the patient ( “The Four Principles of Medical Ethics.”). Letting Mr Bowers decide to end life support was respecting his dignity and right to autonomy. However, forcing him to stay alive on machines, when he clearly stated he did not want that,  would bring him emotional and physical harm and pain. 

     The principle of nonmaleficence or “do no harm” is another key principle. Keeping someone alive in a state they do not want would cause more harm than good. Mr Bowers’ choice was based on avoiding a life he did not want to live. Forcing treatment on someone who finds their quality of life undesirable would violate this principle. 

     Autonomy is a crucial element in this case and in understanding healthcare ethics. Mr Bowers was awake, aware, and asking thoughtful questions. He understood the severity of his injury and the consequences of staying on life support. His decision reflected his personal values of independence and having a satisfactory quality of life. Autonomy is one of the pillars of ethical medical care; it is recognizing that patients are  the primary decision makers in their own treatment (Varkey). 

     Justice also plays a major role because as a patient, he deserves to be treated fairly and equally. Legally, adults with the capacity to make decisions have the right to refuse treatment, even if it results in death. The medical team respected his rights because  Mr. Bowers meets that legal standard so he is entitled to make decisions about his own care. Denying him that right because of the timing or his disability would be unfair and discrimination. 

Arguments Against My Position

     Despite those points, some may be against allowing Mr Bowers to make such a quick decision. This concern might be a result of the beneficence perspective that more time might have given him time to adjust to that new life and accept it. Sudden paralysis is a major trauma and stressor, and people sometimes are in denial about their condition but later find ways to live a meaningful life. It could be beneficial to delay such a big decision until the patient has had more time to process and adapt. 

     From a nonmaleficience standpoint, some may worry that Mr Bowers was under a lot of emotional distress and might not have been in the best state to make a life-ending decision. Trauma could have clouded his judgement and acting on a choice that stemmed from shock and stress could end up causing harm. 

     Autonomy is also a concern because of the question of whether or not he had full decision making capacity under that extreme stress and limited time. Capacity should involve consistent, informed decisions and some people may argue that his decision was not fully voluntary or educated because of the circumstances (Barstow).

    From a justice perspective, there is more of a societal concern. Deciding to quickly deny life support after a diagnosis of a disability may be a reflection of harmful biases that living with a disability is a life that is less valuable or not worth living. This raises an important question of how society views may influence this personal medical decision. 

Ethical Balancing Test

     Balancing these different factors requires a lot of careful consideration of Mr Bowers best interest, a comparison of the quality of life he wants and survival, and an understanding of medical realities. 

     Mr Bowers consistently made his values of independence, dignity, and being able to connect with his family a priority. Living with paralysis and being dependent on machines was a life he did not want. His wife confirmed that this choice was not impulsive and that his feelings were held prior to the accident. The burden of being on life support and the challenges of physical trauma, emotional pain, and the loss of autonomy outweighed the benefits of living longer to Mr Bowers. 

     Medically, his diagnosis indicated that continuing treatment would not improve his prognosis and ability. Since there was no real chance of recovery or improvement, continuing life support would have only prolonged the dying process for Mr. Bowers. This was something that Mr. Bowers was fully aware of and not in favor of. 

     While some people might argue that more time could have changed his mind, the care team did assess his decision-making capacity carefully, and found him to be competent to decide for himself whether to forgo life support or not. His family’s support also  highlighted that his choice was informed  and consistent with his prior beliefs. Overriding his decision would have violated his right to autonomy and his legally established rights.

    In summary, the ethical balancing test supports respecting Mr. Bowers‘s choice because it aligns with his values, medical indication, and legal rights, even though the decision was challenging and made quickly.

Conclusion

     In conclusion, Timothy Bowers had the right to decide to end his life support. Although the timing seemed rushed, he understood his condition and clearly stated his wishes. Also, his family supported him and the medical team respected his autonomy and followed the legally and ethically established standards and principles. This  case highlights the importance of patient centered care and honoring each individual's values, beliefs, and decisions. Although the choice was challenging to make and accept, respecting Mr Bowers’ decision was a compassionate, fair, and ethical action that allowed him to have a sense of dignity in the final moments of his life. 

 

 I certify that my paper meets the word minimum and maximum requirements. My word count is 1095.

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References

Barstow, Craig et al. “Evaluating Medical Decision-Making Capacity in Practice.”    American family physician vol. 98,1 (2018): 40-46.

 

“The Four Principles of Medical Ethics.” Medical Protection , The Medical Protection Society Limited, 2 Aug. 2024, www.medicalprotection.org/uk/articles/essential-learning-law-and-ethics. Accessed 28 June 2025. 

 

Varkey, Basil. “Principles of Clinical Ethics and Their Application to Practice.” Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre vol. 30,1 (2021): 17-28. doi:10.1159/000509119

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Health Insurance Comparison Project

This assignment deepened my understanding of the importance of comprehensive health insurance coverage and its impact on individuals' access to healthcare services. It highlighted the need to consider factors such as cost, coverage, and benefits when selecting a health insurance plan. Additionally, the comparison between Indiana Medicaid/Hoosier Health Card and Ambetter from MHS highlighted the insurance options available and the importance of tailoring coverage to meet individual needs and preferences.

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