Total Questions : 1
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Case Study:
You are a senior surgeon in a prestigious hospital in Bengaluru, known for its state-of-the-art facilities and high-profile patient base. During a routine audit of the hospital’s procurement and billing practices, you uncover a troubling scenario-the hospital’s administration is involved in a practice where certain high-cost medical supplies and treatments are being marked up exorbitantly, even though alternative, more affordable options are available.
The hospital has entered into a partnership with several suppliers, ensuring that these high-cost supplies are purchased exclusively, despite their high price and limited effectiveness compared to other alternatives.As the chairperson of the Ethical Medical Practitioners Association, you are deeply concerned about the implications of these practices on patient care and financial sustainability.
However, some senior doctors in your hospital, who are benefiting from kickbacks provided by the suppliers, urge you to remain silent about the issue to avoid disrupting hospital operations and to preserve their personal benefits. They argue that the inflated prices are helping to maintain the hospital’s high profit margins, which are crucial for its survival and continued growth.
Questions:
GS Paper 4 Case Studies
(a) Identify the main stakeholders and ethical issues involved.
(b) Analyze the potential consequences of exposing the unethical practices for both the hospital and the healthcare system.
(c) What actions would you take in this situation, and what ethical principles would guide your decision-making process?
