Instructions: Read the article titled A Framework for Making Ethical Decisions. Review the below four short ethical dilemma cases. Go back to the article and choose a theory: consequentialist, non-consequentialist, or agent-centered. Next, pick a term used in ethical judgments (described in the article) and one of the three frameworks (also described in the article). Including a theory, term used in ethical judgments and a framework, answer each scenario with 50-60 words.
Please note that this is a Word document so the area for your response will expand as you type.
Short Ethical Dilemma Cases
(All scenarios are from a real student or HCA faculty experience)
1. Physicians are billing for services not rendered and providing unnecessary care (diagnostic tests, follow-up visits where patients are seen for less than 2 minutes, or only seen by a nurse, not MD etc.). You are a student and working part-time as a billing assistant, doing data entry, and computer troubleshooting when you discover this issue.
What do you do as the student/worker who uncovers this discrepancy? Do you report this? To whom? Are you worried more about your job, the patients, or the physicians? Why?
2. Some patients in mixed immigration status families are using Medi-Cal cards of citizens to obtain care for an undocumented sibling or visiting child relative. You are a medical assistant in the community clinic serving many undocumented kids and observe this practice.
How do you approach this situation? Do you report it? Whether yes or no, describe your reasoning.
3. Night shift caregivers in nursing homes are sleeping on the job, ignoring patient calls, and failing to make rounds. The nursing supervisor is not taking any action. You are employed as a nurse’s aide in this facility and have been working there for 6 months.
What action do you take, if any? Justify your response to this situation. Who is most at risk here?
4. Working for a company that is experiencing cash flow problems and is failing to pay vendors on time, yet still placing orders with them and insisting checks had been mailed when no payment has been made.
Is it ethical to place orders when you a doubt the vendor will be paid?