A personable celebrity visits a physician in the medical center where you work. The celebrity travels frequently, and she has asked for an appointment with short notice. As the person responsible for scheduling appointments, you could easily use a trumped-up excuse to bump a patient at the desired day and time, in order to accommodate the celebrity.

Discussion Questions

1. Would it be ethical for you to cancel a patient's appointment in order to accommodate the celebrity?

2. If the celebrity is a hospital patient, would it be ethical for the hospital administrator to drop in to be sure the celebrity is satisfied with her room and care?

As one of three receptionists/appointment schedulers in a small medical clinic, pharmaceutical representatives often offer you pens, coffee mugs, schedulers, or other products. They request nothing in return, but you usually feel obligated to reciprocate, either by checking to see if a physician can squeeze them in between patients, or otherwise facilitating their visit.

Discussion Questions

1. Is accepting these small “gifts” ethical if nothing is asked in return?

2. Are pharmaceutical industry–sponsored lunches or trips provided for physicians ethical in your opinion?

3. Is it ethical for physicians to accept free drug samples from a drug company if they plan to give the samples to low-income patients?

4. Is it ethical for all or some health care workers in a facility to use free drug samples for themselves and their families?