Welcome to Ethics Consult — an opportunity to discuss, debate (respectfully), and learn together. We select an ethical dilemma from a true patient care case. You vote on your decision in the case and, next week, we’ll reveal how you all made the call. Bioethicist Jacob M. Appel, MD, JD, will also weigh in with an ethical framework to help you learn and prepare.
The following case is adapted from Appel’s 2019 book, Who Says You’re Dead? Medical & Ethical Dilemmas for the Curious & Concerned:
John Banner, MD, is a military physician with the U.S. Navy. He is informed by his superiors that “enhanced interrogation techniques” will be used on several detainees who are suspected of terrorism. Some critics have labeled these techniques as torture.
The Navy would prefer to have a physician available should any of the detainees be seriously hurt during the interrogation. “All you have to do is sit inside the officers’ lounge and read the newspaper,” says his commanding officer. “If we have an emergency, we’ll call for you.” Banner’s superior also says that if the Navy cannot find a doctor to be on hand for emergencies, the team will pursue the interrogations without one. “We won’t force you to do it,” says the commander, “but we’d strongly prefer it. Your country would strongly prefer it. And it is the right thing to do.”
Again, to be clear, the physician isn’t being asked to participate directly in the interrogation or agree to the methods being used — just to be on hand to treat any injuries that may arise.
Jacob M. Appel, MD, JD, is director of ethics education in psychiatry and a member of the institutional review board at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. He holds an MD from Columbia University, a JD from Harvard Law School, and a bioethics MA from Albany Medical College.
And check out some of our past Ethics Consult cases:
Report Alleged Improper Doctor-Patient Relationship?
Refuse Treatment for Dictator?
Can I Fire ‘Extremely Unpleasant’ Dialysis Patient?
Last Updated February 05, 2021
Source: MedicalNewsToday.com
