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Infectious diseases ward

Infectious diseases ward
Illustration: At the infectious diseases ward: Health personnel wearing personal protective equipment receiving male refugee.
It is Tuesday morning and Sarah has been assigned to receive a leprosy patient from the next town because the staff at the local hospital there does not know what to do with the patient.

According to the patient record Sarah has found the patient has previously been to the Medical Mission hospital and has been put on treatment. However, when he arrives Sarah discovers that he has been brought in an ambulance by paramedics wearing full protective gear although leprosy cannot be transmitted after the patient has been on effective treatment for 24 hours or more.

Sarah asks the paramedics why they are wearing full protective gear. One of them responds: “We just know that leprosy is a contagious disease and thus it is better to take too many precautions than too few.”

What do you think of their approach? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach in your opinion? Please share your thoughts below.

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Addressing Violence Through Patient Care

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