The art of medicine is often dominated by the learning of facts. We are encouraged to collate symptoms, signs, results and imaging to produce diagnoses, prognoses, cures and palliations. Mrs Reeves becomes ‘CCF in bed 7’ and Mr Reynolds, ‘acute-on-chronic renal failure in 10’. Learning ethics at medical school should be about remembering the humanity behind the diseases. Unfortunately, too many students are put off by believing that ethics is all about common sense or not relevant to them because it is often based around theories that are older than the patients they are treating. Lectures can be full of jargon and confusing terminology that seems to have no place by the bedside. We want this book to show you that this is not the case. In its guidance Tomorrow’s Doctors (2003) the General Medical Council states that medical ‘graduates must know about and understand the main ethical and legal issues they will come across’. It identifies issues of confidentiality and consent, the withholding and withdrawing of life-prolonging treatment, and the treatment of vulnerable patients such as children and those with psychiatric illnesses. With these recommendations medical schools are looking to assess more than just a student’s ability to memorize facts. They are looking to turn students into trustworthy and honest doctors with high levels of communication skills and professionalism. Studying ethics can help students with these skills as it makes them more aware of the patient as an individual rather than a disease process. It also gives them the skills to assess, evaluate and justify their views in the variety of emotionally draining and complex ethical, legal and social situations they will come across while practising as a doctor. The aim of this book is to demonstrate some of these issues through clinical scenarios, which are based on realistic cases. As well as looking at the ethical and legal issues we also want to demonstrate what should happen from a clinical point of view and provide practical guidance that a medical student or junior doctor can use rather than focusing too much on different ethical theories and legal cases and statutes. The questions we have asked about each case scenario are by no means exhaustive. Every scenario will have different ethical and legal issues stemming from it and the answers are intended to be a springboard from which to develop your own analysis and understanding of the situation. With many of the cases there is no right or wrong answer and we implore you to think what your gut feeling is and go on to explore why you feel that way. We hope the cases will give you a taste of the myriad ethical dilemmas you could encounter on a hospital ward, and we have suggested further reading in each area at the end of the book to help you build on your knowledge. Enjoy and good luck!

The purpose of the study was to understand the livelihood needs and coping strategies of elderly women in Nakaseke District. The study was guided by the following Objectives; a) To find out the livelihood needs and coping strategies of elderly women in Nakaseke District, b) To find out the livelihood needs and challenges faced by elderly women in Nakaseke District, c) To find out the Coping and support system for the elderly women and d) To suggest the various interventions to improve the quality of life for elderly women. The study used across sectional descriptive research design with qualitative research methods which helped to gather in depth information on the livelihood needs and coping strategies of elderly women. The sample size of the study was 19 elderly women including 7 local community leaders in the key informant’s interviews and these were selected using purposive sampling method. Face to face interview guides and key informant interviews were generated to collect the required data that was later analysed. Data was presented and analysed into content in that it was presented based on the questions that they were asked about the livelihood needs and coping strategies of elderly women. A number of issues were presented including the coping and support system of elderly women, and also the interventions were also presented to ensure that the Government works hand in hand with different organizations, different leadership structures to better elderly women lives. Therefore, elderly women livelihood should be prioritized since they are already vulnerable being women.

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of covid-19 on boda boda riders. The study also sought to examine the effect of covid-19 on boda boda business, find out the effect of covid-19 on income of boda boda riders, and establish the coping strategies used by boda boda riders during ciovid-19 pandemic. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology. Data was collected using an indepth-interview guide from a sample of 15 boda boda riders operating at Kabugo stage in Nakulabye. Interviews were audio-recorded using the recording application on a smart phone, transcribed and consequently analysed using the thematic and content analysis techniques. The study findings showed that Covid-19 greatly affected the income level and operations of the boda boda riders. The different covid-19 restrictions such lockdown and curfew hours were very stressing and hence prevented bod boda riders from making enough money during Covid-19 pandemic. The study revealed that most boda boda riders were faced with depression due to the failure to support their families since they were no longer working and lacked enough money to meet different needs. The resulting outcome was mass unemployment and this forced most boda boda riders to seek for low interest loans and engage in alternative investments for survival. It is important for government to avail different relief funds or low interest loans that can be accessed by such groups of people such as boda boda riders, who can utilize such finds to revive their livelihoods.

The purpose of this study was to examine the challenges affecting the Performance of Village Health Teams in Mityana District. The objectives of the study were to; assess demographic factors affecting the performance of VHTs, examine the socio-economic factors affecting the performance of VHTs and evaluate the challenges and solution hindering performance of VHTs in Mityana district. The study adopted a cross sectional study design was used in the collection of quantitative and qualitative data. Acquisition of primary data involved interacting with respondents during field visits in Mityana district through face to face interviews with key informants, filling of the questionnaires by VHT members, FGDs was conducted and observations. Secondary data involved collecting records and reports from the district offices and development partners. A simple random sample technique was used to determine the Sub Counties that participated in the study. Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion (FGDs), and Key informants interviews were used to collect the data. Generally, majority, 43.75% were aged between 28-37 years, an age range for youths. 79(79.4%) out of the 112 respondents pointed out that VHTs are involved in Health sensitization whereas 90(80.4%) distribution of deworming tablets. Majority 77(59.7%) of the respondents have ever received family planning services from VHTs, 35(27.1%) stated nutrition services. From the study 98(87.5%) pointed out reluctance of community members to get involved. In conclusion, the study has found the significance of VHTs in promoting health practices to be positive. Results have substantially revealed that in the presence of well facilitated VHTs, the health conditions of Mityana district can be actualized. Based on the study findings, the researcher, the study recommended the need to improve on the supply of services offered to the communities through VHTs. There is also need for continuous supervision and training of VHTs and their supervisors especially in the area of record keeping and report making.

The purpose of this study was to understand the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the elderly people whose source of livelihood is operation of small/informal businesses. The study pursued the following objectives: to identify the effect of the pandemic on access to markets by the elderly; to identify the effect of the pandemic on the health needs of the elderly; to assess the risks brought about by COVID-19 on small businesses owned by the elderly; and to identify the coping mechanisms used by the elderly in sustaining their livelihoods during the pandemic. The study was purely qualitative in nature with a relatively small sample size of ten respondents. In depth interview guides were used to collect data from the elderly which were analysed using thematic analysis. The study findings show that poverty, limited supply of goods and services due to closure of transport means, income and nutrition gaps and difficulty in accessing health care facilities, were some of the effects of the pandemic on the elderly. The study further indicates that depression, vulnerability and neglect, social and economic issues were some of the risks brought about by the pandemic. The respondents used face masks, soliciting loans from financial institutions as coping mechanisms amidst the pandemic induced life style. Finally the study concluded by recommending the need for the initiation of means tested support to boost the incomes of those with the least resources especially the elderly population whose incomes were greatly affected by the pandemic.