Ethical situation question

[Hzreio]

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For ethical questions where you see a physician doing something such as lie, or become under the influence of drugs, should the answer always involve reporting them? For these, it usually involves talking to them, get the full story before jumping to conclusions, considering the options, getting them to stop seeing patients immediately, offer support, etc. But if you see someone doing something that violates integrity or could put a patient in harm, is reporting them something you have to do? Even if you have gotten them to step away or stop their behavior?

 

[Goro]

The correct answer is you doing the right thing. Many questions have no right answer, but they definitely have wrong answers.

What's the right thing?

You tell me.

 

[Zorax]

Sometimes people hesitate to speak up in ethical situations because of how they might be viewed after. But I want you to ask yourself this, would you want your life to be in the hands of a physician who is not at a 100%? To me, anything that puts patients at risk or hospital staff is a reportable offense.

Say you do stop them once, what happens if they do it again - but this time a patient is dead and the higher ups investigate? You knew this knowledge, but didn't report it and now a patient is dead.

In my experience, not reporting is just as bad as the action in question.

 

[Hzreio]

The correct answer is you doing the right thing. Many questions have no right answer, but they definitely have wrong answers.

What's the right thing?

You tell me.

Well, I suppose that's what Im asking then. In your opinion, is not reporting a wrong answer?

 

[Goro]

Well, I suppose that's what Im asking then. In your opinion, is not reporting a wrong answer?

Sorry I'm not doing your homework for you

 

[Hzreio]

Sorry I'm not doing your homework for you

Ha. This is my homework. As you just said, there are no "correct" answers so it is just informative to hear what other people think/perspectives I may not have considered before.

 

[LizzyM]

There is no single correct answer but there are wrong answers.

If that were your mother on the table, what approach would you want the person who witnesses the lie or sees an impaired clinician about to care for her to take?

 

[LunaOri]

Is this theoretical, or have you observed something you need advice about?

 

[Hzreio]

Is this theoretical, or have you observed something you need advice about?

fully theoretical 🙂

 

[LunaOri]

Then you should spend some time thinking about the right thing to do. We will be happy to help you understand the implications of any possible choice.