Money Vs. Morals

Scenario
My name is Taylor Kaine. I am a physician and I consider helping people the main aspect of my job. But is helping people always at the top of my boss’s list? Or is money? Right now, I am dealing with a situation that can possibly determine the answers to these questions. I have a patient who had back problems in the past and has recently been struggling with some minor pain in her lower back. My solution? I believe the best way for her to heal is to send her to a physical therapist who can teach her how to care for her sensitive back. On the other hand, my boss, who is also the head doctor, wants her to undergo a massive surgery that costs money – a lot of money. My mind keeps contemplating on whether he actually believes that this surgery will improve her health, or if he is mostly concerned with the large amount of money this operation will bring in. My hands are tied and I am dealing with a difficult situation. Do I perform the surgery, in order to keep my job, or do I follow my heart and advise my patient attend physical therapy?

Meeting Time Speech
Good afternoon everyone and thank you for taking the time out of your hectic day, to join me in this emergency staff meeting. As some of you may know, my name is Taylor Kaine and I am one of the physicians here at Luke Richards Hospital.

Coming into my job,I knew it was not going to be easy but I never thought my personal morals would be put to the test. I became a doctor because I believed helping people would be the main aspect of my job; I also assumed it would be my boss’s top priority. I was wrong. Maybe curing people is just a part of his plan to earn millions of dollars. These thoughts rolled through my mind when our boss, Dr. Jason Pickna, confronted me yeasterday and asked me why on earth I would recommend my previous patient to attend physical therapy. As some of you may know, the patient I am speaking of is Cathy. Many of you have worked with her before and know that she has some back problems. Considering the amount of time I have spent with her, I thought that sending her to a therapist would be the best way to cure her aching back, but of course, he thought otherwise. He stared at me blankly and with a serious tone informed me that undergoing massive surgery was the one and only way her back could be cured.

That night, I returned home and conducted some research. I found out that this surgery had a 65% chance of improving the condition of my patient’s back, which is a decent chance don't get me wrong, but I also found out that it costs $415,000. I began to wonder whether our boss wanted me to perform this surgery because he thought it would -- without a doubt -- improve her health, or if he was mainly concerned with the large amount of money this operation would bring in.

Now that you understand my situation, you are able to realize that it's complicated and I will have to make a decision that will alter who I am as a person. Am I a person of money or am I a person of morals? Will I do what I believe is wrong, in order to keep my job? Or will I do what is right, in order to save myself a long life of regret?

In high school, many of you have probably read the novel Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury. For those of you who have not read it, my complex job experience is similar to the main character, Guy Montag’s, situation. In this novel, Guy Montag is a fireman whose job is to burn books along with the houses in which they are located. He never questioned the excitement he encountered while burning page after page, but this all changes when he meets a young girl. Seventeen year old Clarisse tells Montag about a time when people did not fear change or being different and because if this, books were not destroyed. After the discussion, Guy remembers the time when he was essentially asked to commit murder because a woman refused to leave her house that his men were soon going to burn. Once the memory was finished replaying in his head, Guy’s mindset changes and he begins to wonder if his job as a fireman is really ethical. Montag realizes -- after much consideration -- that he can no longer pursue his job because it goes against what he believes to be morally correct. In order for him to escape his old life and start fresh, he decides to quit and run. Little did he know that running away was a tragic mistake and that is why I have decided to face reality.

Despite the different routes we took in making our decisions, Montag’s character assisted me in making my final decision. I will not run away, but I will not continue to do what I believe is wrong. Because I am a doctor, I feel as though I owe my patients the best treatment they can get. In order to pursue this emotion, I must send Cathy to physical therapy and in doing so I am hoping to maintain my job. As I begin to ponder the ways I could inform Dr. Pickna of my decision, I realize how much of a benefit having everyone with me would be.

I am planning on holding another meeting next Wednesday, at 7:00 A.M. before any of us have appointments, but instead of only asking you, my fellow coworkers, to attend I will also be inviting our boss to join us. If any of you decide to attend, then more power will be given to us, a group, and the chances of me keeping my job will increase. All of you being there would provide me with the extra amount of support I need to get my point across. For those of you who will not come, I appreciate you taking the time to sit here and listen to what I have to say. If Wednesday comes and I am left alone without anyone to support me, then I will assume that many of you do not agree that this stand is worth losing my job over. The fact is, I do feel this is worth fighting for and I will not settle for anything less than what I believe is right. If – as a result of my determination – I am asked to leave my job as a doctor, then so be it.

Throughout this experience, my personal morals have been put to the test, but I believe that if we are successful and I manage to keep my job, then this event has the potential to inspire other doctors who are placed in similar situations. When they realize how much power a team of physicians had against the head surgeon, they will gain more confidence; they will understand that speaking out when they disagree is better than hiding away in the dust. Whether it be in health care or any other industry, this event could change lives. It will teach individuals that “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence and you will live a satisfied life.” ~Author Unknown.

Thank you again for listening and I hope to see most of you on Wednesday.