Final answer:
While protocols guide medical care, not all aspects are controllable by them. Individual circumstances and unforeseen challenges may necessitate deviation. Responsibility for ensuring adherence and addressing protocol flaws can be complex involving end-users, manufacturers, and regulatory agencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Not every aspect of medical care can be completely controlled by protocols. Protocols serve as models to guide healthcare workers in providing care, but there are many situations where individual patient needs or unforeseen circumstances may require deviations from these protocols. For example, protocols for cleaning or sterilizing medical equipment are usually set by government agencies like the FDA or by scientific organizations, and these are essential for patient safety. However, end-users, namely hospitals and staff, have the responsibility to adhere to these procedures, and failure to do so can result in legal liabilities if patients are affected.
When it comes to issues such as privacy in health records, three important questions are: How can we balance the cost of treatments and patient quality of life with the risks to individual privacy? What role should the government have in ensuring that the uses of medical devices and maintenance of protocols are fail-safe? And furthermore, should hospitals, health-care workers, or manufacturers be held liable for adherence to or flaws within these protocols?
Healthcare efficiency models such as telemedicine, adoption of new types of healthcare professionals, insurance mandates, and the use of artificial intelligence have been employed to manage the increasing demand and costs in healthcare. This tendency towards mass production and efficiency has its benefits but can also result in unforeseen challenges that may not be adequately addressed by existing protocols.