Transcript Mr. Sen TNEEL-NE - All Care Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice

Mr. Sen Case Study
Stuart J. Farber, MD
TNEEL-NE
Connections: Communication
Case Studies: Mr. Sen
Case Study: Mr. Sen
Mr. Sen is a 45-year-old Buddhist monk who has a far-advanced pelvic
sarcoma secondary to complications from a parasitic infection. He
speaks very little English, but is able to express he is having severe
lower abdominal pain. He refuses to take his pain pills, even though
they make him feel better. He keeps saying they make him “sick.”
Mr. Sen
Age 45
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Slide 2
Connections: Communication
Case Studies: Mr. Sen
Case Study: Mr. Sen
The hospice nurse seeks the advice of the
hospice medical director out of concern for Mr.
Sen.
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Slide 3
Connections: Communication
Case Studies: Mr. Sen
Case Study: Mr. Sen
Your search for reliable advice on Mr. Sen’s needs and beliefs
pays big dividends – you reach an expert on Buddhist
traditions. During a telephone conference, you tell her
pertinent details that confirm many of your beliefs on how to
handle this situation.
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Slide 4
Connections: Communication
Case Studies: Mr. Sen
Case Study: Mr. Sen
You now have a broader understanding
of the needs of Mr. Sen based on
conversations with Rodney, an expert
on Buddhist culture and religion. You
are now prepared to meet with him a
second time to see if you can discover
ways to help him take his medicine, and
find out what he means when he says
morphine pills make him “sick.” You ask
Stu, the hospice director, to come with
you the next time you meet with Mr. Sen
– knowing that Mr. Sen will respond
better to a male physician authority.
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Slide 5
Connections: Communication
Case Studies: Mr. Sen
Case Study: Mr. Sen
Mr. Sen is treating his pain continuously, and is now meeting
with you, taking a break from teaching another Buddhist monk.
Mr. Sen is smiling and eating some soup – the largest meal he’s
eaten in days. You again ask him questions about his pain – and
find the results much more encouraging than earlier.
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Slide 6