Life or death moral dilemma. What would you do?

Paul B · January 23, 2007

There's a major teaching hospital in the North of England (no names, no pack drill) who are extremely overspent. On Friday this week, the doctors there have asked me to provide them with one of my company's devices for a specific patient with unusual anatomy. Fact is, he doesn't get this, he'll die within a week and Friday is the last day he can be treated due to other, non-related issues. Anyway, the supplies manager has refused to have our device saying she will refuse to pay for it due to the cost, it's £4,500 (we are in major dispute over treating four previouos patients there). The doctors are powerless other than writing to her and telling her the consequences of her actions. She's responded saying if he's treated with that one device, other patients will suffer.

Here's my dilemma:

Go against my company wishes and provide the device and risk being fired if the device isn't paid for.

Use the company line and refuse to provide the device as the trust will not pay for it in the full knowledge this patient will probably die but I'll keep my job.

Joyful prospect that, isn't it?

Incidentally, as the device has a 24 hour delivery time, I have to make this decision by midday tomorrow.

Help! Give me your advice.

surf · January 23, 2007

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