Healthcare Topics

Question 1

What are some pros of Telehealth?

Answer 1

• More convenient fro patient and doctor
• Less costs
• Reduces chance of infection
• Patients with mobility issues are able to access healthcare better

Question 2

What are some negatives of Telehealth?

Answer 2

• No physical examinations can be done –> difficult to diagnose symptoms
• Lack connection built between patient and doctor –> difficult to show emotion
• Difficult if internet connection is poor
• Privacy concerns arise over electronically transmitted data

Question 3

What are some positives that arose from the impact of COVID-19?

Answer 3

• Accelerated research and production of mRNA vaccines
• Accelerated implementation of Telehealth and Remote Learning/Work
• Increased awareness of appropriate hygiene
• Governments have better equipped protocols to deal with future pandemics/epidemics

Question 4

What are some negatives that arose from the impact of COVID-19?

Answer 4

• High death toll (>6 million)
• Many people lost jobs
• Psychological impacts of deaths/isolation
• Burden of disease
• Some may have mistrust in the healthcare system

Question 5

What are some potential solutions to obesity?

Answer 5

• Subsidies to make healthier options and more accessible
• Make foods of high sugar content more expensive –> ppl less likely to buy them
• Education of early age of dangers of obesity, ways to reduce likelihood of it, etc.
• Try new approaches to advertising to make individuals more invested in focussing more on health
• Breakdown barriers to exercise
• Placing calorie content on menus so ppl can make more informed decision

Question 6

What are some reasons why P platers are more likely to crash?

Answer 6

• Less experience driving –> more likely to make mistakes
• Higher likelihood to speed
• Higher likelihood to engage with risk-taking behaviour
• More likely to drink and drive
• Subject to peer pressure / showing off to passengers

Question 7

What are some existing solutions to road accidents?

Answer 7

• P license has several restrictions
• Red Ps –> only one other passenger of similar age allowed
• No alcohol for first 4 years of driving with Ps
• Power limit on cars –> has to be under certain limit
• TAC advertising to highlight potential impacts of driving unsafely

Question 8

What are some potential solutions to road accidents?

Answer 8

• Regular driving tests could be taking to reassess one’s ability to drive safely
• Increase the amount of hours required of learners
• Stricter penalties for driving unsafely

Question 9

What are some reasons for Vaccine Hesitancy?

Answer 9

• People may feel that the vaccine mandate is a breach of autonomy
• Vaccine costs may be too expensive for some
• People may be misinformed due to non-reputable sources
• Pain and potential adverse effects of vaccine

Question 10

What are some solutions to Vaccine Hesitancy?

Answer 10

• Offer multiple vaccines to individuals and allow people to choose
• Offer more reputable, accessible and digestible information so people can make an informed decision
• Ensure only credible information is published to the public
• Work with patients considerately and acknowledge their beliefs
• Provide subsidies to reduce the cost of vaccines
• Ensure patients are monitored after vaccine to ensure they are not experiencing other adverse effects.

Question 11

Why are Breast Milk Banks used?

Answer 11

• If mothers cannot produce sufficient amount of milk, it can be useful to use other breast milk.
• Baby may not be able to consume mother’s milk
• Babies get immunological benefits from breast milk
• Babies get nutritional benefits from breast milk

Question 12

What are some benefits of Breast Milk Banks?

Answer 12

• If standardised, it can offer correct safety protocols to be put in place
• It can reduce likelihood of informal sharing of breast milk

Question 13

What are some negatives of Breast Milk Banks?

Answer 13

• Can cause infections if milk is pasteurised and handled incorrectly
• Can be contaminated with drugs/medication if proper screening doesn’t occur

Question 14

Can financial incentives increase the effectiveness of Breast Milk Banks?

Answer 14

• If financial incentives are given, then more people are likely to donate breast milk
• If financial incentives are given, then this could disproportionately affect individuals of lower SES as they may be pressured to donate more milk –> reduce health
• If no financial incentives are given, ppl may not donate –> more informal breast milk sharing

Question 15

What are some positives of DNA Screening?

Answer 15

• Can be helpful to assess if an individual carries a gene mutation and can get earlier diagnosis –> earlier treatment
• Can take preventative measures to deal with presence of certain gene
• Can look into other options for children if diagnosed such as IVF or adoption
• Can rule out particular conditions to assist diagnosis

Question 16

What are some negatives of DNA Screening?

Answer 16

• Privacy concerns –> who gets access to the info // if insurance companies have access to it, insurance cost could increase
• If individual knows of presence of mutation –> anxiety/psychological effects about it
• If a test is done to test presence of one gene, should presence of other genes be informed to the patient
• False positives could lead to some people aborting potentially healthy babies
• The cost of the test is high

Question 17

What are the positives of DNA selection?

Answer 17

• Allows for family planning –> ppl can choose if wanting a boy or girl
• Allows certain genetic-specific problems to be avoided

Question 18

What are the negatives of DNA selection?

Answer 18

• Worsens inequality as it can be very expensive –> ppl of lower SES disproportionately affected
• Can lead to a sex imbalance in the population
• Can contribute to gender inequalities
• Moral Issues –> wrong to choose and go against natural course?

Question 19

What are some positives of the Organ Donation Opt-out System?

Answer 19

• Increase the pool of organ donors –> saves more lives
• Process is sped up as consent is presumed
• Lead to reduction in illegal organ trafficking (done in some countries due to shortage of organs)

Question 20

What are some negatives of the Organ Donation Opt-out System?

Answer 20

• Family members may be unhappy as they do not want organs to be donated // Family may not be able to overrule the decision
• Consent is presumed and not explicitly given –> ethical issues

Question 21

What are some financial incentive considerations for the Organ Donation Opt-out System?

Answer 21

• More people likely to donate
• Financial incentives reward people for donating
• Disproportionately affect ppl of lower SES as they may be more likely to donate –> health issues in the future
• Would inhibit unregulated organ trafficking from occurring