Ethical Issues of Health Care
Ethical issues in health care
PHI 111:71 Tuesdays 5:25-7:55
Dr. Aronson
November 2, 2008
Word Count: 1,993
An Ironic Reversal of Professional Perspective in Medical Ethics
An Ironic Reversal of Professional Perspective in Medical Ethics
The movie “The Doctor” captures the shortcomings of a mechanized health care industry. Dr. Jack McKee is a gifted, however, arrogant, and self centered surgeon who cares little about the emotional welfare of his patients; treating them with a callous attitude, and examining them as specimen. Out of the four models of physician/patient relationship, Dr. McKee exemplified the Paternalistic model, the least ideal model for physician/patient interactions. He makes decisions for the patient dismissing the importance of their values or desires. For example, on the way home from a festival with his wife, Mrs. Street calls because she is concerned that her husband wants to mow the lawn after having just received surgery on his lungs. Dr. McKee says” Well it is dangerous to mow the lawn in the dark”, laughs, and carelessly hangs up on her. He also uses the interpretive model where the patient is inchoate and is asking for elucidation of their values and acts as a counselor. For example, the suicidal patient, he tells the patient next time he wants to torture himself to go play golf. Doctors such as Dr. Murray, Dr. Abbott, and his radiology therapist were doctors in the film that acted in the same manner as Dr. McKee had in the beginning of the film. Dr. Murray asked him to lie under oath for him in a major malpractice case against Mr. Richards. This case involved medical infidelity and going against the ethical principle of justice when the benefit that Mr. Richard’s was entitled to was denied and the burden of his health was imposed unduly. He was denied informed consent of his medical conditions and went against the Kantian belief of truth-telling which states” to be truthful in all declarations is therefore a
PHI 111:71 Tuesdays 5:25-7:55
Dr. Aronson
November 2, 2008
Word Count: 1,993
An Ironic Reversal of Professional Perspective in Medical Ethics
An Ironic Reversal of Professional Perspective in Medical Ethics
The movie “The Doctor” captures the shortcomings of a mechanized health care industry. Dr. Jack McKee is a gifted, however, arrogant, and self centered surgeon who cares little about the emotional welfare of his patients; treating them with a callous attitude, and examining them as specimen. Out of the four models of physician/patient relationship, Dr. McKee exemplified the Paternalistic model, the least ideal model for physician/patient interactions. He makes decisions for the patient dismissing the importance of their values or desires. For example, on the way home from a festival with his wife, Mrs. Street calls because she is concerned that her husband wants to mow the lawn after having just received surgery on his lungs. Dr. McKee says” Well it is dangerous to mow the lawn in the dark”, laughs, and carelessly hangs up on her. He also uses the interpretive model where the patient is inchoate and is asking for elucidation of their values and acts as a counselor. For example, the suicidal patient, he tells the patient next time he wants to torture himself to go play golf. Doctors such as Dr. Murray, Dr. Abbott, and his radiology therapist were doctors in the film that acted in the same manner as Dr. McKee had in the beginning of the film. Dr. Murray asked him to lie under oath for him in a major malpractice case against Mr. Richards. This case involved medical infidelity and going against the ethical principle of justice when the benefit that Mr. Richard’s was entitled to was denied and the burden of his health was imposed unduly. He was denied informed consent of his medical conditions and went against the Kantian belief of truth-telling which states” to be truthful in all declarations is therefore a
References: Levine, Carol. Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Bioethical Issues. 12th ed. Dubuque, Iowa: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008. 2-32.