Overview: HIM professionals have a responsibility to adhere to the core values and principles set forth by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Code of Ethics. These values and principles include privacy, security, and maintenance of patient healthcare information, as well as striving to deliver the highest quality of healthcare for all patients. Understanding and adapting to cultural differences for all patients is imperative for a healthcare professional.

Case Study: A 20-year-old, pregnant, Black-Hispanic female presented to the emergency department (ED) in critical condition following a single-vehicle car accident. She exhibited signs and symptoms of internal bleeding and was advised to have a blood transfusion and emergency surgery in an attempt to save her and the fetus. She refused to accept blood or blood products and rejected the surgery as well. Her refusal was based on a fear of blood transfusion due to her religious beliefs.

Respond to the case study by considering the following:

 Describe the role of AHIMA in the healthcare industry.  How does the AHIMA Code of Ethics apply to this situation? Specifically, describe the ethical dilemma.  Should the hospital respect her wishes? Why or why not?  How do ethical theories, principles, and values influence your assessment?  What strategies should the HIM leaders of the hospital take to ensure the organization is culturally competent and following healthcare standards of ethics?

This assignment will help you understand ethical and cultural dilemmas in healthcare that you can incorporate into your final project.

Guidelines for Submission: Your paper should be submitted as a 1- to 2-page Microsoft Word document in APA format with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins.