The social and ethical issues faced by chronically ill female cancer patients

Authors

  • Mudasir Rashid Baba
  • Sajad Ahmad Buch
  • Negar Shafiei Sabet
  • Saeid Reza Doustjalali
  • Leo Rathinaraj Antony Soundararajan
  • Khin Thane Oo
  • Mon Mon Thawda Oo
  • Muhammad Parial Shahani
  • Shahnaz Haque
  • Mohd Zin Bidin
  • Swe Swe Latt
  • Myat Myo Naing
  • Leela Anthony
  • Aye Aye Tun
  • Maheswaran Solayappan
  • Jegathambigai RN
  • Sutha Devaraj
  • Nazmul MHM

Keywords:

Chronic illness, female cancer, autonomy, dignity, social and ethical issues

Abstract

This study examines and explains the impact of chronic illness on the social fabric and related ethical issues in female cancer patients. Sixty female patients from the medical oncology department from private medical college Hospital participated in this study. The data was collected from responses to a self-administered validated questionnaire comprising of 5 domains. The 5 domains used were i) Dependency ii) Communication iii) Issues with gender iv) Hesitancy regarding personal acts and, v) Emotional components. The domains were used and social and ethical issues were dissected out. The response to most of the domains consisting queries regarding autonomy and dignity in this study was moderate. A significant proportion of the participants however, showed concern in emotional domain with 70% being forced to spend time in bed during episodes of pain and 73.3% fearing to lose hope if left alone during their illness. This study emphasized the importance of social and ethical issues arising from chronic illness like cancer.

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Published

2025-08-08

How to Cite

1.
Baba MR, Buch SA, Sabet NS, Doustjalali SR, Soundararajan LRA, Oo KT, Thawda Oo MM, Shahani MP, Haque S, Bidin MZ, Latt SS, Naing MM, Anthony L, Tun AA, Solayappan M, RN J, Devaraj S, MHM N. The social and ethical issues faced by chronically ill female cancer patients. J Neonatal Surg [Internet]. 2025Aug.8 [cited 2025Oct.13];14(32S):7199-208. Available from: https://www.jneonatalsurg.com/index.php/jns/article/view/8789

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 32S (2025): Journal of Neonatal Surgery

Section

Original Article

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