Suggested Discussion
Questions
The secondary teacher is
responsible for discussions for each case study.
The discussions may take place in the classroom
or may be a silent discussion in which students
select a question and answer it in writing.
Students are awarded 10 pts for each discussion.
One discussion question should be answered for
each case study. It is the responsibility of the
secondary teacher to submit a list of students
to Debby that complete each discussion. Please
feel free to use your own discussion questions.
We would like to generate a pool of questions
and will post your questions on this page.
Case Study #1:
Sports Related Traumatic Injury
1. Human Growth Hormone (HGH) has been used by
athletes to enhance performance. Most clinical
studies suggest, however that HGH does not have
an effect on athletic performance. This hormone
is banned by professional leagues. A New England
Journal of Medicine study (Rudman et al, 1990)
gave regular injections of HGH to men over 60
and concluded that at the end of six months, the
participants had “denser bones, thicker skin,
less fat, and more lean body tissue.” These
results were similar to taking 10-20 years off
the men’s’ age! Do you believe HGH should
continue to be banned, or is this the new
fountain of youth? Please back up your
discussion response with evidence.
Physical Therapists may specialize in many
different areas of care. In this case, Derrick
saw a physical therapist that specialized in
sports medicine. List 2 other areas a physical
therapist may specialize in, or in other words,
two types of patients that may require the
services of a physical therapist. (You may find
other areas of specialty on the internet or you
may talk with someone acquainted with physical
therapy).
2. Define what an arthroscope is. Discuss how
the arthroscope has revolutionized knee surgery.
3. Discuss different options for treating an ACL
tear. Define advantages and disadvantages of
each.
4. Discuss methods used by a physical therapist
to rehabilitate a patient that has undergone ACL
replacement surgery.
Case Study #2:
Diabetes
1. Teenagers have a hard time sticking to
their diabetes plan which includes checking
blood glucose levels, counting carbohydrates,
exercise, and insulin injections. Staying in
good control, however, greatly reduces the
chances of complications. Reasons that make this
difficult are wanting to be independent from
authority figures, the influence of their
friends, and surging hormones. What suggestions
could you give a teenager with type 1 diabetes
to help them stick to their treatment plan?
2.
Cassie, a junior high student, was recently
diagnosed with diabetes. Her blood glucose
(sugar) dropped rapidly in class. She became
disoriented. She stood up and passed out,
hitting her head and knocking her unconscious.
The teacher told a student to run to the office
and get insulin so he could give her an
injection. Was this the proper response? Would
an insulin injection have helped this student?
If you disagree, what treatment would you
recommend?
3. Discuss the dangerous conditions caused by
extremely high blood glucose levels in a
diabetic.
4. One of the symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis
is hyperventilation? Discuss why a patient
hyperventilates in cases of ketoacidosis.
Case Study #3:
Multiple Sclerosis
1.
Stem cells are being studied as a possible
treatment option for MS and other autoimmune
diseases. Stem cell research has been a
controversial political issue. In your opinion,
should stem cell research be allowed in the
United States? If so, should there be
limitations on this research? Defend your
opinion.
2.
In this case study, it took 12 years from the
onset of symptoms for Janet to receive a
definitive diagnosis. Discuss why this is such a
difficult disease to diagnose.
3. Differentiate between the use of steroids and
the use of B-interferons in the treatment of MS.
4. Discuss the causes of motor impairment in
patients with MS.
Case Study #4: Meningitis
1. The HIB vaccine, introduced in about
1980, has almost eliminated the most common
cause of bacterial meningitis in children.
Vaccines, however, have lately been linked by
some as possible causes of Autism, ADHD, and
Cerebral Palsy. What do you believe the future
role of vaccines should be in our society?
Please defend your answer.
2.
A 17 year old classmate has just returned to
school after spending a week in intensive care
with bacterial meningitis. Doctors commented
that he was lucky to have survived. Parents are
concerned about sending their children to
school. Should they be concerned? If so, are
there precautions that could be taken?
3. A clinical laboratory scientist plays a
significant role in the diagnosis of bacterial
meningitis. Discuss testing methods used and
their significance to the diagnosis of the
disease.
4. Discuss the differences between viral and
bacterial meningitis.
Case Study #5: Hemophilia
1.
Your baby brother has just been diagnosed with
hemophilia. Your family is not aware of anyone
in the family's history with the disease. The
doctor recommends that siblings be genetically
tested to see if they carry the hemophilia gene.
Will you follow the doctor's recommendation or
is ignorance bliss? Explain your answer.
2.
Discuss how the hemophilia trait is carried
genetically. Typically, why do males and not
females have hemophilia? Why are females
typically only carriers of the disease?
3. Discuss why the hemophiliac population was
virtually wiped out prior to 1990. What methods
are now used to provide “safe” factor VIII?
Case Study #6: Acute Myocardial Infarction
1.
Obesity rates in the United States have
dramatically increased in the past 20 years.
Only one state (Colorado) in 2007 had obesity
rates less than 20%. What recommendations would
you make to reverse this trend?
2.
Share a brief story from recent news or your
personal life of an accident or illness
requiring response from emergency personnel.
List a minimum of three vital steps EMT's would
perform in this situation.
3. Discuss risk factors for a myocardial
infarction. What recommendations would you make
to decrease an individuals chance for a
myocardial infarction.
Case Study #7:
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
1.
Many individuals such as Noah do not have health
insurance. The United States recently passed a
new health care reform bill. In your opinion, is
it the responsibility of the government to make
sure every individual has health care? What
possible effects would universal health care
have on your future as a health care
professional?
2. Justin Tebbs is a 4-year-old patient with
acute lymphocytic leukemia. His father is
unemployed and the family has no insurance.
Justin is not responding to chemotherapy. He has
a 30% chance of survival with a bone marrow
transplant. Should Justin receive the
transplant? If so, who should pay for it? Defend
your answer.
3. Why is a patient with leukemia more
susceptible to secondary infections? Discuss
precautionary measures that should be used to
help prevent secondary infections in cancer
patients.
Case Study #8:
Food Poisoning
1. Recent E-coli outbreaks in fruits and
vegetables may scare even the healthiest of
eaters away from the salad bar. The use of
irradiation (using low levels of gamma
radiation) to kill potential pathogens in
produce is being proposed. This method has been
used to treat red meat since 1997. Some say this
is a deal with the devil. What do you think?
2.
What can you do to prevent food poisoning at:
a. A family picnic
b. As a fast food employee
c. As a fast food consumer
If you know anyone that has had food poisoning,
discuss the experience.
3. Discuss the difference between an enterotoxin
and endotoxin.
4. Sally has been experiencing extreme diarrhea
after eating lunch at a fast food restaurant.
After 24 hours the doctor diagnoses her with
food poisoning. Discuss how a fecal leukocyte
count can help the doctor determine the
seriousness of her disease.
Case Study #9:
Hepatitis
1. Body piercings are a popular trend, yet they
pose the risk for contracting Hepatitis and
other infectious diseases. Several states have
passed legislation limiting body piercings to
minors without parental consent. In 2008, Great
Britain passed national legislation regulating
body piercings in minors. Do you support this
type of legislation? Defend your answer.
2. Explain what precautions you would take to
prevent the spread of hepatitis in:
1. A fast food establishment
2. A body piercing establishment
3. A hospital
If you know anyone that has had hepatitis,
discuss how they acquired it.
3. Discuss why it is difficult to develop a drug
to cure a viral infection (hint, study the
“virus” link in the case study).
4. Discuss why a person with hepatitis becomes
jaundiced.
5. Discuss differences between Hepatitis A and
Hepatitis B.
Case Study #10.
Renal Failure
1. The following patients are all using dialysis
due to kidney failure. All want to be placed on
a kidney transplant list. Because of the
shortage of available organs, your job is to
prioritize the patients in the order they will
receive an available kidney.
Derick Henly: Critically ill 4-month-old baby.
Nancy Smith: 38-year-old mother of four. Kidney
failure due to lifelong diabetes.
Jason Thompson: 21-year-old car accident victim.
Severe internal injury. Surgeons removed his
spleen following the accident.
Doug Bryson: 50-year-old father of five.
Currently unemployed and uninsured.
Rank the patients in the order you will put them
on the transplant list. Explain your reasoning.
2. Discuss the effects of elevated potassium and
sodium levels in patients in renal failure.
3. Which tests are critical to monitor in a
patient in renal failure. Discuss key indicators
of patients in renal failure.
