Question

1. Can Dr. Mann satisfy his duty to obtain Mrs. McAllen’s informed consent for the MRI if he does not disclose the fact that Red Heart Medical Centre is a physician-owned hospital of which he is a stakeholder?

2. Do you think financial information, such as the cost of a proposed test or intervention, should be disclosed as a part of the informed consent process? Explain your reasoning

Mrs. McAllen and her wife had just finished moving from Cleveland, OH, to a small town outside Austin, TX, when she felt an uncomfortable twinge in her lower back. Then the pain set in. Assuming she had strained her back from lifting heavy boxes during the move, she decided to take it easy and rest for the next few days in the hopes that the pain would go away on its own. But after a week of being in constant pain, and frightened by a few alarming internet search results, Mrs. McAllen decided to make an appointment at a nearby hospital, Red Heart Medical Centre. A few days later Mrs. McAllen is seen by Dr. Mann, a prominent physician at the hospital. After going over Mrs. McAllen’s medical history, discussing the events surrounding her lower back pain, and performing physical evaluation Dr. Mann quickly realizes that Mrs. McAllen is suffering from a simple muscle sprain which, on average, takes 4-6 weeks to heal. Muscle sprains are very common, rarely require lab testing or diagnostic imaging to diagnose, and do not require any special surgeries or medications (apart from pain killers) in order to heal. Even though Dr. Mann has no doubts that Mrs. McAllen is suffering from a simple back sprain, he considers offering her the option of undergoing an MRI in order to confirm the diagnosis. In his experience, patients seem more accepting of a diagnosis when advanced diagnostic testing has been performed, and he sees nothing wrong with giving Mrs. McAllen that option. And even though Dr. Mann is aware that studies show an MRI would be very unlikely to provide any additional or useful information regarding Mrs. McAllen’s back pain, he also knows that the test would pose very little additional risk to Mrs. McAllen. Given that Mrs. McAllen has just moved to the area, she is unaware that Red Heart Medical Centre is a physician-owned hospital, meaning that its physicians receive a percentage of the hospital’s profits from tests, surgeries, and other patient care. As an investor in the hospital, each time Dr. Mann performs a test or procedure at Red Heart Medical Centre he receives both the fee for the test as well as a percentage of the hospital’s overall profits. However, because Dr. Mann considers this is a personal financial matter and does not think this factors into his patient care in any way, he does not feel the need to mention this possible conflict of interest to his patients.

Answer 1

1.physician owned hospital are highly charged hospitals among country. They provide higher range of treatment to the patients. They are taking extra charge because of high maintenance & partnership between share holder. So the work of these Hospitals are reviewed by govt. Official. So DR Mann can't satisfy his duties if he disclose the fact that they advised to take test of every diagnosis although it is very clear & common

2.Absolutly the test cost, procedure, all intervention & all information should be written in the conset. It is very essential for patients to know details about their expenditure for a specific disease. And what intervention carried our by doctors & nurses to cure them.

* Although it is a physician owned hospital they prority their investment profit & loss in a year. Physician take the all benifits through test ,surgery etc which is worth less. But they are doing this because of their profit.

* physician owned hospitals are now prohibited by govt. By affordable Care Act . It's a good choice of govt. to prohibited them for increasing their facility capacity.

*Below poverty line patients can not afford this service. So all people needed to get equal care. For this criteria it is the best way to stop corruption as well as develop moral of individuals.