Medical Ethics

11. A physician picked up a car accident victim from the street and brought him to the ER in his car. He did not want to wait for an ambulance because the patient’s condition was critical. Physical examination in the ER reveals quadriplegia. Is the physician liable for this consequence? (Very important)
    Answer: yes, because the physician did not protect the neck of the patient resulting in quadriplegia.
    
    
12. A policeman brought an adolescent alcoholic patient to the ER. The policeman asked the physician to give him a sample of gastric contents by putting a nasogastric tube for laboratory study. The patient refused insertion of a nasogastric tube. (Very important)
    Next step in management: nasogastric tube should not be placed. Blood alcohol level, however, should be performed. The policeman should not give orders to a physician.
    
    
13. A 15-year-old homosexual boy wanted to change his sexual orientation. He was not successful. He needed help. He requested the physician not to tell his parents. (Important)
    Next step in management: physician should help him avoid homosexual activities. Physician should not tell his parents about his homosexual activities.
    
    
14. A 15-year-old homosexual boy was brought by his parents to a physician. His parents do not accept their son’s sexual orientation. The boy refused to change. (Important)
    Next step in management: physician should tell his parents that homosexual activity is considered as an alternative life style. Parents should talk to his son but should not force him to change his homosexual activities.
    
    
15. A 16-year-old girl become pregnant. Her mother wanted her to abort this pregnancy. The girl wanted to continue her pregnancy despite difficulties. Her boy friend is a high school drop out. (Important)
    Next step in management: physician should advise to continue this pregnancy because the girl is competent to make this decision.
    
    
16. A 15-year-old girl recently becomes pregnant. She went to a doctor for abortion. She told the doctor not to tell her parents about this pregnancy. (Important)
    Next step in management: abortion should be done and parents should not be notified. Please remember, strict requirements for parental consent may deter many adolescents from seeking health care.
    
    
17. Can a physician provide sterile needles for intravenous drug abusers? (Important)
    Answer: yes. It reduces the risk of acquiring HIV or hepatitis. The patients should be referred to appropriate health facilities.
    
    
18. A 17-year-old pregnant woman went for antenatal check up. Sonogram revealed a 27-week-old fetus with erythroblastosis fetalis. Doctor recommended intrauterine fetal blood transfusion. She refused the procedure. Social worker discussed the case with the mother. (Important)
    Next step in management: doctor should receive a court order to do the procedure which will help the fetal condition.
    
    
19. A 17-year-old man tells his doctor that he is going to kill his girlfriend. She lives in the university dormitory. Doctor called the university and alerted them about the threat. However, university security people did not protect her. She was killed by her boyfriend. Who should be responsible for this killing? (Important)
    Answer: The 17-year-old man is responsible. Doctor did the right thing by notifying the university or the police. The university is also responsible because they did not take any preventive measures.
    
    
20. A 16-year-old pregnant woman refuses cesarean section for complete placenta previa. Fetus is full-term and healthy. Social worker spoke to the mother. (Important)
    Next step in management: doctor can go to court to get the permission for cesarean section for the benefit of the fetus.