Reference no: EM133456615

Assignment:

Please help with these ethics questions!

1) A journalist working on an investigational piece about a local government official finds a source who, upon conditions of anonymity, will reveal some disturbing factual information about the official. When discussing the article with their boss, it comes to light that the boss personally knows the official. The boss demands either retraction of the parts of the story that put the official in poor light, or that they reveal the name of the source. What should the journalist do?

2) A physician is "in-network" with an insurance company that pays about 50% of their office visit charges. The patient pays an additional 20% as time-of-visit co-pay. The insurance company will reimburse at a slightly higher level if the doctor "codes" a visit at a higher level of complexity-which would include performing more physical exams and the like. The doctor does this, even if not medically indicated, in order to bill for higher reimbursements. Is this permissible? Why or why not?

3) An engineer for a bridge-building company is investigating the materials used for construction on the project. In their research they find that the bolts that have the highest safety/durability rating are also the most expensive. The foreman on the job who is managing the budget asks that the engineer find cheaper bolts with a lower safety rating. What should the engineer do and why?

4) A mental health counselor is working with a client who shares about her stressors when discussing her anxiety. The client is a grandmother and she shares her worry and suspicion that her daughter may have relapsed in using recreational drugs again. The client is not absolutely sure, but has concerns for both her daughter and her grandkids living in the household. How should the therapist handle the situation? What are their professional obligations?

5) A professor at a prestigious university has a casual conversation with a colleague at a social event. They discuss their scholarly interests, particularly their current research projects with the intention of publication. As the colleague shares the main thesis of their research, they also share their frustration with how the statistical results haven't been favorable and they're concerned because much rides on the grant that is funding the research. Later that year the research is published and the professor reads that the conclusions of the research are very positive. What should the professor do?

6) Create a scenario about an actual or possible ethics violation from one of the professions we looked at.