- respond and comment on the refutations proposed by your fellow classmates.
Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.
Reply 1
In response to the opposing group’s arguments, I believe that publicly announcing the hospital’s policy on LGBTQIAP+ care is essential for both ethical and practical reasons, despite concerns about potential backlash and the risk of politicizing healthcare. While it’s understandable to consider the hospital’s relationship and rapport with its community, the opposing group overlooks the importance of maintaining integrity in patient care. Healthcare organizations have a fundamental duty to prioritize the well-being and dignity of all patients, regardless of community sentiment and regardless of patient identity. By choosing not to publicize our policy, we risk signaling to LGBTQIAP+ patients that their care needs are less important or valid than other patients’ needs, and that may also be something that resonates to the community as a whole. Also, research suggests that long-term support for inclusive practices can, over time, shift community perspectives and contribute to a more accepting environment (American Hospital Association, 2020). By demonstrating a leadership approach for inclusive care, we fulfill our ethical obligations and can help shape a more inclusive culture, which ultimately benefits the community as a whole.
The concern about healthcare becoming a platform for political debates is valid, but it may misconstrue the role of healthcare institutions. Supporting LGBTQIAP+ is not necessarily political; it is about upholding principles of equity and patient-centered care, not necessarily about politics. The opposing group’s argument does not recognize that quiet integration without public disclosure may limit the hospital’s accountability and transparency, which are needed for building trust with patients, staff, and community members. Transparency in our policies reinforces a culture of inclusivity that can enhance the quality of care, as patients who feel respected and valued are more likely to engage with healthcare services and follow through with treatment plans (Gleason et al., 2023). By being open about our commitment, we can foster a supportive environment where both patients and staff feel empowered to uphold these values because they feel trust.
References:
American Hospital Association. (2020). Advancing health equity for LGBTQ communities. Institute for Diversity and Health Equity. https://ifdhe.aha.org/advancing-health-lgbtq-communitiesLinks to an external site.
Gleason, N., Serrano, P. A., Muñoz, A., Hosek, S. G., & French, A. L. (2023). Access to healthcare among sexual and gender minority youth at risk for HIV: Barriers and experiences of discrimination. AIDS Care, 35(10), 1480–1491. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2023.2209303Links to an external site.
Unit 7 Discussion 1 – Public Announcement: Debate (Comprehensive arguments)
Instructions:
This week you will view and respond to the arguments made by the opposing group. Support your position by pointing out flaws in the other group’s reasoning.
In responding to the opposing group’s argument against the hospital advertising its stance on healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community, it is important to address the flaws in their reasoning. First, failing to promote support for this community’s healthcare needs can help foster an environment of exclusion. Compared to other groups, the LGBTQ+ population is more likely to experience distress or emotional issues. Social exclusion, which includes hostility, opposition, rejection, and discrimination by society against LGBTQ+ persons as a target group, may be the cause of this risk (Cheung & Tsang, 2023).
Hospitals have an obligation to treat all patients fairly, and by announcing their commitment to diversity up front, they make underrepresented communities feel valued and protected while seeking medical attention. Remaining silent on these matters may be seen as intolerance or apathy, undermining the hospital’s goal of providing equal treatment to everyone. To provide the best treatment possible for our various patient populations, it is critical that the healthcare staff reflects the diversity of our communities in terms of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, immigrant status, physical disability status, and socioeconomic status (Stanford, 2020).
References
Cheung, C., & Tsang, E. (2023). Conditions for social exclusion leading to distress change in chinese lesbian, gay, and bisexual (lgb) people. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(10), 5911. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105911Links to an external site.
Stanford, F. (2020). The importance of diversity and inclusion in the healthcare workforce. Journal of the National Medical Association, 112(3), 247–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2020.03.014Links to an external site.