ethical dilemmas

[greatone1010]

---

Members do not see this ad.

How would one answer these questions, just want some opinions?

1)If you were able to do a procedure, but the patient didn't have insurance or there insurance wouldn't cover it, what would you do?

2)If you knew of someone who cheated on an exam, would you report him/her?

 

[rpames]

1. The obvious question: Is the procedure neccessary, or is it optional? I would like to say I would do it either way, but in reality I can not. If a doctor did ever procedure no matter the payment, they would be a free clinic. There are obvious exception when I believe the procedure is required of the doctor as an "ethical must." If it is not done, will the patient die? Will the patient's life be drastically altered if action is not taken? In these situations the doctor MUST (not should, they must) help out. "With great power, comes great responsibility."

My father has given services in trade. One instance I can think of is an auto mechanic need glasses and exams for his family but could not pay for it. At the time we had a car with a dent in it and a squeek in the dash. The mechanic fixed the car and we gave them exams and glasses. Cash payment is not the only means of payment avalible.

2. I would not report the student the first time. Everyone makes bad choices sometimes, but I would keep an eye on the student from then on. If the student cheated a second time, I would then take action. If was a student I liked, I would probably confront them and ask what is going on. If they had no excuse, I would give them the choice to turn themselves in. If the student was a jerk, I would just talk to the prof. about it.

You could also take the position that if the student is not learning the information, they will end-up failing the boards later. So it really does not matter if you stepped in.

 

[ewsmith1]

Great Questions!

1. You will have to look at the individual situation for giving "free" care to your patients. There will be many times when you give away care or reduce the costs...this is up to you (at least in medicine) Do not get locked into thinking about what the insurance company will pay, b/c if you change your rates depending on insurance payment, you can, and will, be found guilty of insurance fraud. Just do the right thing and be honest.

2. I'll have dissagree with the last post... Yes, people make mistakes and have poor judgment from time to time. However, as a future doctor, you cannot under any circumstances be allowed to cheat. If that person does it as a student, what will they do when they get out on their own. Would you want a surgeon who cheated in medschool working on your mother? I caught a student cheating and turned them in and when I graduate, if my collegues participate in unethical or nonlegal practices I will turn them in; just as I would expect them to do to me if I did the same. This is not a question of what to do, it is the law that you report unethical behavior. Stand up for what is right, and keep your profession going. Do not settle for cheaters as your collegues!

 

[rpames]

It is the law to report illegal things, not ethical things. These are two completely different things. There are many things which are legal, but not ethical.

 

[ewsmith1]

Ok,

So "it's the law" was probably not precise enough to get the point across, and since you are a newby to professional school, I spell it out more clearly...lol

Your profession should have an ethical statement that they put out for everyone to follow. And violation of these ethical boundries should/can result in loss of license to practice; at least that is how medicine and dentistry work and I imagine optometry as well.

If so, the professions are allowed to govern themselves by the states; they are granted the rights to make up their own laws for safe practice. Therefore, if your ethics state it is unethical to work on a patient while intoxicated....then the clinician who does not report their fellow collegue is in violation of the law.

There is no need to debate the issue...you should have enough respect for your profession to say cheating is wrong...period!!!

 

[rpames]

Cheating is wrong...period, you are right. I never said it was not. I just believe the ethical thing to do is find out what is going on before jumping in. What is the more ethical thing: 1. Report someone for making a poor choice and very possibly ruining their life. or 2. Giving them the benefit of the doubt and offering to help.

Like I said earlier, if they cheated their way through school they would never pass the boards. They would eventually fail if they did not learn their stuff.

As far as the drunken doctor you spoke of...that is a different story. Of course you could argue letting a cheater go without flagging them could be just as dangerous. But as I said above, if they did not learn their stuff, they would never get through. One test is different than endangering a patient's life in the real world.

If a doctor was endangering people's lives, and or safety, you without question have a legal and moral duty to report them and take action without finding out why s/he is doing what they are doing. When a person's well being is involved, drastic action needs to be taken, but not on a single test.

You have very valid arguments and I can see and understand exactly where you are coming from. Don't take my posts as an attack on what you are saying. I have a minor in philosophy so I have an inner drive to debate issues. If people do not challenge what others say, you will never reach the truth. Preaching to the choir never gets you anywhere. If some one does not play devil's advocate, we will never form an educated and well thought out decision.

 

[ewsmith1]

rpames,

Your statement about the cheater not passing the boards goes without merit. Just b/c someone cheats does not mean they will not be able pass the boards; afterall, how did they pass the entrance exam to get into pro school?

If they are cheating now, they probably have in the past, and probably will continue to do so in the furture.

This is why most pro schools have a professional conduct comit to oversea these things...bring it to their attention, let them investigate the facts, and then they will hand down a decision... This is the same way that doctors (all profs) who run into problems are delt with. Every state has a board of whatever that deals with these issue....

All professions (doctor ones) are self-governed and the process starts during your undergrad....yes the 4 years you spend in opt school are actually referred to as "undergrad" when you consider specialty training afterwords (graduate)....do not debate this please

Anyway, if I caught you cheating I would turn you in plan and simple....Cheaters should not be doctors anyway you look at it.

P.S. 2007....you haven't even started yet, right? You have a lot to learn, and your attitude is great, which will help.

 

[rpames]

P.S. 2007....you haven't even started yet, right? You have a lot to learn, and your attitude is great, which will help.

I don't understand? I think it may be an insult, but more likely a complement...I'm not sure.

For the record, you have done a nice job defending your morals. You may very well have changed my opinion of what to do if I am in that situation.

 

[ewsmith1]

rpames,

Thank you...

Your comments on this board are very thoughtful, respectful, and puposeful.

If you continue to stay level-headed you will no doubt succeed while in opt school.

P.S. It was a sarcastic joke and a complement...