Case Analysis

Case Analysis

Agawa, Alcaraz, Almora

Ang, Balan, Barsaga

August 24, 2009

ROLE PLAYING

Case # 3

Dr. R.V. an anesthesiologist friend of yours have been using prohibited drugs and you have noticed him to be withdrawn, irritable and distracted recently. You have heard rumors that he has made a serious error in calculating a medication dosage but the error was discovered before the drug was dispensed.

Case # 3

You talked to him as a friend and raised your concern about him. You encouraged him to undergo detoxification and addiction treatment program but he declined saying that he can handle it by himself. Unfortunately his personality changes persist and even though he assures you that he is drug free you strongly suspect that his drug abuse continues.

Case # 3

When you directly confronted him with your suspicion, he cuts off all further contact with you. You want to intervene but are uncertain how to proceed. You believe that you should raise your concern to a body that can handle this problem.

Case # 3

Questions:1. Are you justified in doing so on the basis

of your current information?2.Should his admission of drug abuse

during your professional contact be kept confidential?

3.What are the moral and legal implications of breaking confidentiality?

4. Discuss the ethical issues in this case

Just a short review…..

Virtues of Health Care ProfessionalTruthfulnessCompassionHumilityPrayerfulnessPrudence Fortitude


Doctor – Doctor relationship is based on the Principle of Solidarity.

By the virtue of prudence and courage and steadfastness we should denounce in a professional way those physicians deficient in character or competence who may endanger the lives of patients.


Virtues of benevolence, care and compassion, respect for autonomy, and justice must be practiced so that patients will entrust their lives into our hands

1. Are you justified in doing so on the basis of your current information?

Yes. In Dr.’s case the time of action would seem to be

now. His behavior changed noticeably. He made a

potential serious mistake in prescribing and his effectiveness as a clinician is being undetermined by his abusive manner and the resulting rumor mill.

Undoubtedly patients will be injured by this physician.

2.Should his admission of drug abuse during your professional contact be kept confidential?Yes* tingin ko NO, because it is a criminal

offense punishable by law. And to keep it a secret means aiding on the criminal act…???*

A colleague who does drugs is not respectable and a physician who may be perceived as covering up for him brings the profession into disrepute

3.What are the moral and legal implications of breaking confidentiality?Moral:Principle of primum non nocene

(nonmaleficence) Incorporates the requirement that

physicians prevent conditions likely to be harmful to patients.

There is a compelling duty to maintain the quality of the profession.


• If it is justified then, it should be constructive and made directly and privately to the physician concerned.

• If both parties cannot be reconciled refer to proper authorities or a competent body for decision .


It is also unethical to imply by word, gesture or deed that a patient has been poorly managed or mistreated without good evidence.

Such improper behavior specially when used to induce a person to become one’s patient is unethical.


It is unethical for a physician not to report fraud, professional misconduct, incompetence or abandonment of a patient by another physician

Case Analysis

Documents

Transcript of Case Analysis