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45. Case: Un/Reasonable Expectations?
View Case: 45. Case: Un/Reasonable Expectations?It’s one of those days that you don’t look forward to as a manager. You have two complaints about staff that need to be dealt with, and it seems that these types of issues are increasing. The first complaint is from Ann about what was posted on another staff member’s social networking page. Ann visited…
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44. Case: Whose Business Is It?
View Case: 44. Case: Whose Business Is It?Brent Wathorn, 78, has been living at Halfway Lake Manor for about 6 years. His main complaint has been that he is lonely and has had difficulty connecting with the other residents. This has been a source of distress for staff at times, as they would like him to feel more ‘at home.’ Norma Carkner,…
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43. Case: What’s My Responsibility?
View Case: 43. Case: What’s My Responsibility?You’ve been a physician at the local hospital for a number of years and greatly enjoy your practice. You get the chance to see a range of patients and have worked closely with a variety of community members to facilitate the development of support networks for patients after they leave the hospital. Recently, in response…
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42. Case: “Oops, Did I Say Too Much?” The Ethics of Confidentiality
View Case: 42. Case: “Oops, Did I Say Too Much?” The Ethics of ConfidentialityYou work with a variety of patients and families, and often see firsthand both the joys and disappointments that can come with trying to manage mental health issues. Over time, you have developed some special expertise in working with patients with schizophrenia and often are asked by family doctors for assessments and/or support with treatment…
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41. Case: Ethical Budgeting
View Case: 41. Case: Ethical BudgetingThis is the day you’ve been dreading as manager of the geriatric day program at your local hospital. Word has come down that your budget is going to be cut by 15% in the next fiscal year (indeed everyone’s budget at your facility faces the same cut). You have three months to determine how this…
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40. Case: All Things Being Equal…
View Case: 40. Case: All Things Being Equal…As a member of your health region Foundation Board, you know that there is going to be a rather intense, lengthy, and difficult discussion tonight. A high profile community member recently passed away and left $500,000 in her will to the Foundation. This was an unexpected donation and means that the Foundation is in a…
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39. Case: Setting Priorities
View Case: 39. Case: Setting PrioritiesIn the wake of a mass casualty event, a hurricane that devastated much of Nova Scotia, blood resources within the province are extremely scarce. There is not enough blood to meet all the legitimate blood-related health needs of Nova Scotians, and the blood supply is not expected to increase significantly in the next two months.…
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38. Case: Managing Human Resources
View Case: 38. Case: Managing Human ResourcesThe Bluenose Villa is a long-term care facility licensed under the Nova Scotia Homes for Special Care Act. It is owned and operated by a rural, non-profit health organization. At a recent meeting of the senior management team and Board of Directors to establish next year’s annual budget, the CEO, Ms. Seahead, shares her concerns…
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37. Case: A Question of Resources
View Case: 37. Case: A Question of ResourcesJoyce Skinner is a 38-year old woman with non-curative leukemia. She is the single mother of two children, ages 11 and 8, and her ex-husband is ‘out of the (parental) picture’. Since her leukemia diagnosis, Joyce has approached her progressive hematological cancer in an assertive manner, seeing it as her responsibility to fight to stay…
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36. Case: Fee-For-Service Care (Complementary/ Alternative Practices)
View Case: 36. Case: Fee-For-Service Care (Complementary/ Alternative Practices)A registered nurse is also a registered massage therapist and runs a private practice out of her home. Physicians often refer patients to her privately for massage therapy, but have also begun asking this RN to provide massage services while on duty in the hospital. She feels uncomfortable about this and after speaking with her…
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35. Case: Competing Interests?
View Case: 35. Case: Competing Interests?A medical device had been developed by a physician who provides care at your local hospital. The department he works in wants to begin to use that device on a regular basis. A process to guide this action has been developed by the physician in question and his team. They would like the ethics committee…
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34. Case: To Tell or Not to Tell
View Case: 34. Case: To Tell or Not to TellThe head pathologist of the regional hospital informs the head pathologist of the tertiary care centre that the post-mortem examination of a former patient, Mrs. Dempsey, has revealed that she suffered from a neurological infection called CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease). The tertiary centre pathologist reports this to the VP of Acute Care who determines through investigation…
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33. Case: Ethical Advertising?
View Case: 33. Case: Ethical Advertising?A hospital has placed billboards throughout the region with the following statement: “Are You a Victim of Sexual or Domestic Assault? Come to Warman Center Where We Will Treat You Immediately. Our Staff of Counsellors and Providers Have Received Special Sensitivity Training in This Area. You Are Our Main Concern.” A twenty-five-year-old college student presents…
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32. Case: To Report or Not
View Case: 32. Case: To Report or NotDr. B is the epidemiologist and director of infection control for an academic health centre. The reportable disease statutes and regulations in Dr. B’s province specify that hospitals and other health care facilities throughout the province are required to track nosocomial infections (infections not present in patients prior to their admission to the hospital) and…
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