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In this Episode, you are the head of Information Technology (IT) Services. Dr. Jones pages you to come to his office regarding a rather sensitive matter. As he was verifying the intranet lab results for his patients, he noticed that one of the patients had a positive Syphilis test. The patient is a board member for the community health center and is a highly respected member of the community. He serves on a number of philanthropic boards, sings in the church choir, has a loving family, and contributes large amounts of money and time to the Community Health Center. You know very little about Syphilis so he/she talks with the CNO. You learn that Syphilis is a reportable disease in the state (part of the public health law). This means that the patient’s name must be submitted to the state health department. The patient will be contacted by the health department and will be asked to provide names of sexual contacts.  Dr. Jones checks with another physician as to how this issue has been handled in the past (perhaps before electronic records); the physician says the best thing to do would be to get the patient to tell the spouse, as the spouse will be contacted by the health department (and it is certainly better to hear this type of news from the spouse as opposed to a stranger). Even after receiving all of this information, Dr. Jones asks you to purge the electronic record of the test results and not submit the name to the state health department. Dr. Jones bases this request on the physician/patient privilege, confidentiality issues, and even the Hippocratic Oath (telling you that it includes “do no harm” and the doctor knows that this issue will harm the patient’s reputation and possibly his marriage).

Your decision: There are many issues to consider in this decision, namely the extent to which physician/patient privilege extends, the ethics of a physician and a hospital breaking the law in order to protect a donor, the responsibility a physician has to the spirit of the law and protecting a community, and the good of the individual vs. the good of the community. You will need to consider these issues because they impact the Community Health Center. Based on the information you gather and ethical issues you consider, you will tell the physician what you decide, why you made the decision, and how the physician should proceed with his patient.

 

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Your Healthcare Ethics Paper:

Step 1: Understand the Scenario and Key Issues

• Carefully read the scenario. Highlight critical points: “reportable disease,” “physician/patient privilege,” “ethical vs. legal responsibility,” and “community vs. individual good.”

• Identify the stakeholders: patient, spouse, Dr. Jones, IT, the health center, and the state health department.

Step 2: Research Legal and Ethical Guidelines

• Use reputable sources to understand the law around reportable diseases and physician/patient confidentiality:

  • CDC – Reportable Diseases

  • HIPAA Privacy Rule

  • AMA Code of Medical Ethics

• Review ethical decision-making models like the PLUS Model or utilitarian vs. deontological frameworks.

Step 3: Outline Your Paper
Structure your response clearly:

1. Introduction – Introduce the scenario and state your thesis about balancing ethical and legal responsibilities.

2. Body Sections – Address the questions systematically:

   • Legal Obligations: Explain why Syphilis is a reportable disease and the implications of breaking the law.

   • Ethical Considerations: Discuss physician/patient privilege, confidentiality, and the Hippocratic Oath.

   • Stakeholder Analysis: Evaluate the impact on the patient, spouse, community, and organization.

   • Decision and Rationale: Clearly state your decision, explaining why it aligns with ethical and legal standards.

   • Recommended Actions for Dr. Jones: Suggest how the physician should communicate with the patient and involve the health department responsibly.

3. Conclusion – Summarize your decision and emphasize the balance of individual care with public health responsibilities.

Step 4: Write Your Paper

• Start with a strong introduction that frames the ethical dilemma.

• Use subheadings to organize sections clearly.

• Support your arguments with research, laws, and ethical frameworks.

• Include examples if relevant, e.g., case studies or public health reporting practices.

Step 5: Apply Proper Formatting

• Follow APA style (or the required format).

• Cite all sources accurately, including laws, ethics codes, and articles.

Step 6: Review and Revise

• Ensure your reasoning is clear and logically consistent.

• Check grammar, spelling, and clarity.

• Verify that every part of the assignment prompt is addressed.

Step 7: Submit

• Use the assignment template if provided.

• Double-check deadlines and submission instructions.

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Suggested Resources for Your Paper:

1. CDC – National Notifiable Diseases

2. HIPAA Privacy Rule

3. American Medical Association (AMA) Code of Ethics

4. Bioethics Resources on Public Health

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