Use E38 Case Study As Beginning of the Thing for Talcott Parson S Sick Role

HP20: Talcott Parson’s ‘Sick Role’.

Unit 30, P3 part (b)
Read ALL the case studies.

For each case study identify whether it fits in with the rights and obligations of Parson’s sick role.

Remember, the rights and obligations are:

1. Joe is 15. He has been sexually active for 4 months. He learnt about contraception at school but his friends and older brother told him that sex is better without a condom, so he doesn’t bother using one.
   Joe finds a rash on his penis. He tells his girlfriend about it who says he is a disgusting minger and needs a bath. After a bath he still has the rash but is too embarrassed to tell his girlfriend. He talks to his aunty who he likes. She tells him to get checked out at the GU clinic.
   Joe goes to the GU clinic and has lots of tests. The doctor tells him that the rash has probably been caused by an allergic reaction to washing powder, however, the blood tests that were taken show that Joe has contracted HIV.
   Joe is offered counselling which he declines. He is given the ‘cocktail’ of drugs needed for patients who are HIV+, but he throws the prescription away.
   Joe goes home and phones his aunty. He tells her about the washing powder and they have a laugh about it. He carries on with life as normal and does not tell anyone about his HIV status.
   

1. Joanna is pregnant and has sickness that comes on at various times of the day. She doesn’t want to take any medication in case it harms her baby. Her partner has cleared up loads of sick when she has not made it to the toilet, and says he doesn’t mind. The sickness takes her by surprise, one minute she feels fine, the next she’s vomiting for England. She has not started her maternity leave yet and attends work as normal, but sometimes has to rush out to the toilet to be sick.
   
2. Ray is 71. He has heard about Bird Flu and is aware of the dangers. He has been sent a letter offering him a vaccination at his local doctors. He takes them up on their offer and gets vaccinated.
   
3. Sharon is 41. She has 3 children aged 7, 11 and 13. She works part time. She goes to the doctors because she has a sore throat and headache. The doctor diagnoses tonsillitis and prescribes anti-biotics. He gives her a sick note for 2 weeks off work and tells her to rest. Sharon takes the medication but continues going to work and look after her children. She completes the course of antibiotics and recovers.
   
4. Lesley is 56 and an alcoholic. He has toothache because over the years he has vomited so much (from alcohol consumption) that he has lost the enamel on his teeth and they have rotted. His partner tells him to go the dentist, but although he agrees to go he never actually makes it. He takes time off work because of the pain and spends a lot of time lying on the sofa. He claims whiskey is good for the pain and ‘self treats’. His partner refused to look after him and goes to stay with her daughter for a long weekend to get away from him.
   
5. Vicky is 19 and diabetic. She controls her diabetes by diet and insulin. She attends university. She lives in a student house with 3 other people and they have a system for chores which she adheres to. Not many people know that she is diabetic because she controls it so well and it doesn’t come up much in conversation.
   
6. Marcus is 14 and has developed some spots on his body and face over night. His mum tells him to go the doctors which he does. The doctor diagnoses chickenpox, prescribes medicine and writes a sick note for Marcus to have 2 weeks off school. Marcus takes the medication and stays off school. His parents ring his Saturday job and explain he won’t be able to attend for 2 weeks. They allow him off his washing up duties. He moves from his bed to the sofa and back again. His parents look after him and make sure he is taking his medication. Marcus tells his parents he concentrating on getting better because he wants to get back to normal life – school, Saturday job and his football team.