Ethical Dilemmas in the Medical Field

Dr. Johnson is faced with a difficult situation. An unconscious teen comes in and is in need of a life-saving blood transfusion due to a severe injury. However, the parents insist the whole family is Jehovah's Witness and receiving blood transfusions is against the patient's religious beliefs. What should Dr. Johnson do?

• Respect the patient's religious beliefs and find alternative treatments.

• Proceed with the blood transfusion without the patient's consent.

• Consult with the patient's friends about their religious beliefs

• Ignore the patient's religious beliefs and prioritize their well-being.

Dr. Williams is caring for a young patient with a terminal illness. The patient's parents insist on pursuing aggressive medical interventions, even though there is little hope for a positive outcome. This could prolong the patient's suffering. What should Dr. Williams do?

• Respect the parents' wishes and continue with the medical interventions.

• Advocate for a more palliative approach to provide comfort to the patient.

• Consult with other medical professionals for a second opinion.

• Ignore the parents' wishes and make the final decision based on medical expertise.

Dr. Lee is treating a patient who wants to end their own life due to unbearable pain from a chronic illness. Assisting someone in dying is against the law in their state. What should Dr. Lee do?

• Respect the patient's wishes and provide assistance in ending their life.

• Seek legal advice and explore options for providing palliative care.

• Keep the patient's desire confidential and continue with regular treatment.

• Encourage the patient to seek psychological counseling instead.

Dr. Garcia is asked by a pharmaceutical company to prescribe their newly released medication to patients, even though it hasn't been thoroughly tested. The company offers significant financial incentives for doing so. What should Dr. Garcia do?

• Accept the offer and prescribe the medication to patients.

• Conduct independent research on the medication before making a decision.

• Consult with other medical professionals to gather their opinions.

• Refuse the offer and prioritize patient safety and well-being.

Dr. Patel is treating a patient with a contagious disease. The patient refuses to comply with necessary isolation measures, putting others at risk. What should Dr. Patel do?

• Respect the patient's autonomy and allow them to make their own decisions.

• Report the situation to the appropriate health authorities.

• Try to convince the patient of the importance of isolation measures.

• Withdraw from treating the patient and assign another doctor.

Dr. Thompson discovers that a colleague has been altering medical records to cover up mistakes. What should Dr. Thompson do?

• Confront the colleague directly and express concerns about their actions.

• Report the colleague's actions to the hospital administration or ethics committee.

• Ignore the situation and focus on personal responsibilities.

• Seek advice from other trusted colleagues before taking action.

Dr. Rodriguez is faced with a patient who requests unnecessary tests and procedures to maximize insurance coverage benefits. What should Dr. Rodriguez do?

• Fulfill the patient's requests to maintain a good doctor-patient relationship.

• Explain the potential risks and limitations of unnecessary tests and procedures.

• Consult with other medical professionals for guidance.

• Refuse the patient's requests and provide appropriate care based on medical necessity.

Dr. Nguyen is involved in a clinical trial for a potentially life-saving medication. The trial includes a placebo group, and Dr. Nguyen is responsible for administering placebos. What should Dr. Nguyen do?

• Disclose to the patients that they might be receiving a placebo.

• Follow the trial protocol and administer the placebos without disclosure.

• Discuss the potential risks and benefits of participating in the trial with the patients.

• Withdraw from the trial to avoid ethical conflicts.

Dr. Kim works in a rural area with limited resources. A patient needs a specialized treatment that is only available in a distant city, which the patient cannot afford to travel to. What should Dr. Kim do?

• Seek funding options to cover the patient's travel and treatment expenses.

• Refer the patient to a different doctor who can provide the required treatment locally.

• Explore alternative treatment methods available within the local resources.

• Inform the patient that the required treatment is unavailable and provide supportive care.

Dr. Lewis faces a situation where a patient's confidential medical information could potentially save the life of another patient. What should Dr. Lewis do?

• Respect patient confidentiality and prioritize privacy.

• Seek legal advice on whether the information can be shared.

• Obtain consent from the patient before sharing the information.

• Share the information with the appropriate medical professionals to save a life.