My partner recently took a bad fall on some concrete steps and got a large gash on her head. Fortunately, her son — a prominent cardiologist at a local hospital — was present.
He drove past two closer hospitals to reach the one where he is on staff. The E.R. was basically standing room only, but she was ushered into a private room and received immediate attention, as well as staples and other treatments. A scan, too, was provided right away, with a prompt reading from a radiologist.
What would probably have been a five-hour ordeal for most took less than 70 minutes. Was this special treatment ethical? One religious leader I asked said yes, arguing that such perks are a legitimate reward for his work. Another said no, insisting that no one should have to wait longer because others receive V.I.P. priority. Thoughts? — Name Withheld
From the Ethicist:
Here’s a classic example of how our special responsibilities to loved ones can come into tension with the more general obligations we owe to others. Ideally, doctors — and indeed all of us — should support triage systems in which patients are cared for strictly according to medical urgency, not personal connections or status. That’s simple fairness.
