|
The
"balance" principle recognises that a tension exists between what is good for
individuals and for populations. It was probably on these grounds that the committee
decided that the new drug would not be made available. The "cooperation"
principle suggests that the doctor should cooperate with his colleagues and implies that
contacting the media would not be helpful. But the "openness" principle means
that the committee should be open with patients, doctors, and the community (through the
media perhaps) on why it is denying patients a drug. The doctor might decide that the
hospital is not living by the openness principle and so contact the media himself. If he
does that, he should abide by the openness principle and give the whole story, not just
his version. If the trust has lived by the principles and the doctor has not, then it
might be legitimate to punish him. It clearly would not be legitimate if the doctor lived
by the principles but the trust did not. |