Ethical Dilemma

Ethical Dilemma

Alan works in the claims department of a major hospital. Paperwork on a recent admission shows that a traumatic mugging caused the patient to require an adjustment in the medication she is prescribed to control anxiety and mood swings. Alan is struck by the patient’s unusual last name and upon checking her employment information realizes she is one of his daughter’s grade school teachers. Alan’s daughter seems very happy in her school and he cannot violate patient confidentiality by informing the school of a teacher’s mental illness but he is not comfortable with a potentially unstable person in a position of influence and supervision over his eight year old daughter.

1-Facts:

●Alan works at hospital.

●Potentially unstable patient paperwork arrives to his desk.

●Patient is his daughter's teacher.

●Alan cannot violate patient confidentiality.

●Alan is not comfortable with an unstable teacher supervising and influencing his daughter.

2-Question:

Should Alan respect the teacher’s confidentiality, or violate the law and report the teacher to the school in an attempt to protect his daughter?

3-Approach:

Based on Rule Ethics: One may act from the grounds of compulsion or from those of ethics. Furthermore, we should beware of adjusting the moral law to fit our own actions. Finally, to practice virtue is to act on principles.

4-Application: 

Due to his concern over his daughter, Alan might act out of compulsion and report the teacher immediately without sparing a thought on how his violation is going to affect the teacher. Being an ethical person and an employee at the hospital, Alan cannot and will not disregard the strict law that prohibits the disclosure of patient information. Alan will not report the teacher as it will harm her on a professional and psychological level and because it will backfire on him and get him into trouble. Finally, in order to maintain a virtuous life, Alan must not report the teacher to the school.