Unit 7: M1 D1
M1 Balancing individual rights with the duty of care
Individual rights are very important in everyday settings, especially in health and social care settings.
Everyone is entitled to their rights and so discrimination and inequality are minimized. It is the duty
of health professionals to ensure that a service user’s rights are promoted effectively throughout
their care. Health professionals should also exercise their own rights so as to be willing to help and
support individuals. In the case study of Walters NHS Trustholly Ward, there were a lot of rights that
were infringed and they are as follows:
● Protection from harm and hazard: this right suggests that individuals need to be protected
from harm and any potential hazards that may risk their health. According to the duties of
the carers and health professionals seen in the case study, well being and health of Robert
were highly ignored, and the responsibilities of relevant health carers were not fulfilled.
From the case study, we can see that Robert developed diarrhea and vomiting from the ward
food he ate. This could mean that the ward failed to monitor and check the conditions of the
food that was served to patients including Robert. Therefore, the ward violated and
neglected the rights of their patients and Roberts.
● Rights to information: the manager failed to explain further why the complaints procedure
was being reviewed. It was the duty of the ward manager to give the right information
necessary for Robert’s parents so they can understand how the health system work. The
manager could have even suggested an alternative to the problem (writing a letter to
hospital head instead of waiting for the complaint procedure to be reviewed). However, he
made it sound that complaining was impossible to do in the ward. In my opinion, the ward
manager does not want any complaint to be made on his/her ward as it will ruin the
reputation of the ward itself and the staff there that is why he was not willing to give the
proper information needed, violating the rights of Robert and his parents.
● Freedom to life: if the ward failed to protect Robert and other patients from harm and
hazard, then they reduced the quality of life for them. Diarrhoea and vomiting could be signs
of food poisoning and this is a very serious illness which can endanger their life to the extent
may be a cause of death. Consequently, this interference to their right and freedom is a
proof of the poor performance of the health professionals and carers in the ward.
● Freedom from torture and inhumane treatment: Robert’s parents failed to perform their
duty of care as parents. In the case study there are hints that shows that he is being starved
at home as Robert said he was not allowed to eat at home without permission. In a “normal”
home, eating if you are hungry is a natural thing to do, however this is something the parents
of Robert’s fail to understand. With the testimony from Robert, we can pick out how is
treated at home. The parents are neglecting him, and this could even be the reason he was
hospitalised in the first place. However, there is no evidence that shows that Robert is indeed
being starved, we cannot ideally say that he is being abused at home.
It is important that Walters NHS TrustHolly Ward balances individual rights with their duty of care as
this encourages a positive response from patients receiving care from them.
Similarly, in the child case study of Zebra Ward, rights of the children were infringed as well. They
include:
● Security of a person: Both children Lucy and Kevin are very young to be left alone and so
caring for them should be prioritise. From the case it says that they were admitted to the
ward following a car accident were neither of the children were secured in their car
seats. It seems that the father did not forget to put his seat belts on which is why he
M1 Balancing individual rights with the duty of care
Individual rights are very important in everyday settings, especially in health and social care settings.
Everyone is entitled to their rights and so discrimination and inequality are minimized. It is the duty
of health professionals to ensure that a service user’s rights are promoted effectively throughout
their care. Health professionals should also exercise their own rights so as to be willing to help and
support individuals. In the case study of Walters NHS Trustholly Ward, there were a lot of rights that
were infringed and they are as follows:
● Protection from harm and hazard: this right suggests that individuals need to be protected
from harm and any potential hazards that may risk their health. According to the duties of
the carers and health professionals seen in the case study, well being and health of Robert
were highly ignored, and the responsibilities of relevant health carers were not fulfilled.
From the case study, we can see that Robert developed diarrhea and vomiting from the ward
food he ate. This could mean that the ward failed to monitor and check the conditions of the
food that was served to patients including Robert. Therefore, the ward violated and
neglected the rights of their patients and Roberts.
● Rights to information: the manager failed to explain further why the complaints procedure
was being reviewed. It was the duty of the ward manager to give the right information
necessary for Robert’s parents so they can understand how the health system work. The
manager could have even suggested an alternative to the problem (writing a letter to
hospital head instead of waiting for the complaint procedure to be reviewed). However, he
made it sound that complaining was impossible to do in the ward. In my opinion, the ward
manager does not want any complaint to be made on his/her ward as it will ruin the
reputation of the ward itself and the staff there that is why he was not willing to give the
proper information needed, violating the rights of Robert and his parents.
● Freedom to life: if the ward failed to protect Robert and other patients from harm and
hazard, then they reduced the quality of life for them. Diarrhoea and vomiting could be signs
of food poisoning and this is a very serious illness which can endanger their life to the extent
may be a cause of death. Consequently, this interference to their right and freedom is a
proof of the poor performance of the health professionals and carers in the ward.
● Freedom from torture and inhumane treatment: Robert’s parents failed to perform their
duty of care as parents. In the case study there are hints that shows that he is being starved
at home as Robert said he was not allowed to eat at home without permission. In a “normal”
home, eating if you are hungry is a natural thing to do, however this is something the parents
of Robert’s fail to understand. With the testimony from Robert, we can pick out how is
treated at home. The parents are neglecting him, and this could even be the reason he was
hospitalised in the first place. However, there is no evidence that shows that Robert is indeed
being starved, we cannot ideally say that he is being abused at home.
It is important that Walters NHS TrustHolly Ward balances individual rights with their duty of care as
this encourages a positive response from patients receiving care from them.
Similarly, in the child case study of Zebra Ward, rights of the children were infringed as well. They
include:
● Security of a person: Both children Lucy and Kevin are very young to be left alone and so
caring for them should be prioritise. From the case it says that they were admitted to the
ward following a car accident were neither of the children were secured in their car
seats. It seems that the father did not forget to put his seat belts on which is why he
