One day Mr. Bagley, aged 46 years, developed an array of signs and symptoms that he believed were stemming from his heart disease, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. He discovered his blood pressure was 85/50, which was significantly lower than usual, and he was experiencing dizziness, blurred vision, shortness of breath, weakness, and nausea. When Mr. Bagley visited his provider in a large internal medicine group, the registered nurse assessed his vital signs and evaluated his currently prescribed medications. Mr. Bagley's current electronic records revealed 18 different prescribed medications by several specialists within that medical network. Upon comparing pharmacological effects, the nurse found three medications that interacted in a harmful way. Mr. Bagley underwent testing in the next few days, but the provider concluded that polypharmacy, which means taking multiple medications concurrently for coexisting diseases and conditions, possibly led to Mr. Bagley's problems. As a result, the provider discontinued two prescriptions and adjusted the dosages of several other medications. Review the content on medicalization and chronic disease and illness in the chapter. 1. Using one or more scholarly sources: a. Define the term polypharmacy. b. Discuss the magnitude of the polypharmacy problem in the United States today. 2. What ethical implications relate to providers' and nurses' overprescribing or inefficient monitoring of medications? Explore these issues in terms of the bioethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. 3. What is the meaning of chronic disease and illness? As you answer, discuss the related statistics and issues. 4. Do you believe that Mr. Bagley's care has become medicalized? Please explain.
