Ethical Implications of Defensive Medicine

Directions:
You are the CFO of a small rural women's health center within Bright Road Health Care System has received
requests from several physicians to purchase a 3D mammography machine. The equipment is state-of-the-art
and excellent for early diagnosis, but the women's health center has limited funds and currently does not have
a large incidence of breast cancer diagnosis.
The student is to prepare a formal recommendation to Mr. Smith, Chairman of the Board of Bright Road Health
Care System. The report should include the following concepts:
• How best to move forward with the proposed purchase of the 3D mammography machine.
• Validate the information (outcomes stats) provided by the key stakeholders at the Women’s Health Center.
Keep in mind, that persons requesting the acquisition of capital assets may have a tendency to overstate the
benefits associated with the purchase and de-emphasize the cost implications (non-reoccurring and
reoccurring).
• Consider all alternatives, the influence of defensive medicine on the request, and support his or her position
with appropriate rationale.