The following ethical dilemma discussion is from Chapter Nine of the accompanying text. The questions immediately following each ethical dilemma are guided questions for you to consider as you frame your thinking. Seek to develop your own positions where neither the law nor public opinion has reached an ethical consensus that conforms to accepted values. For every question, there are two or more valid positions that are consistent with universal values and principles.

1. Should patients who do not adhere to their treatment regimens be precluded from bringing a medical malpractice claim against the physician or hospital who attempted to treat them?
2. Since non-adherence is a widespread problem in clinical practice, should a risk assessment of each patient occur prior to initiating treatment? Should this risk assessment be part of the minimal standard of acceptable care? After all, health is dependent on the ability of physicians and hospitals to communicate with their patients.
3. Does the health care industry have an ethical obligation to seek changes to malpractice laws when such changes would improve public health? In this instance, poor adherence to treatment protocols poses risks of drug-resistant strains of some diseases and virus mutations, which could affect public health.