This essay will discuss a case describing an ethical dilemma a physiotherapist at an AFL club, Kamil Samra, is faced with upon discovering that players are being provided with performance enhancing drugs. There are a number of stakeholders involved, these include two health care professionals, Kamil and the sports scientist. As well as this, the coaching staff and club management, the players, and even Kamil’s parents will all have an impact on the scenario, as well as be affected by the results. This essay will discuss the ethical and legal dilemmas, followed by a discussion listing the ethical considerations of the issue such as bioethical principles and the appropriate codes of conduct. After proper analysis a resolution can be proposed
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These dilemmas are conflicting and require analysis to come to a resolution. The main issues circle around whether he should remain loyal to his club and employer by staying quiet, or follow the professional standards which he is bound to by being a health care professional, and report this misconduct. As a health care professional, Kamil should be acting in accordance with the principle of ‘above all, do no harm’; having knowledge that the use of Thymosin beta-4 causes long term health issues puts Kamil into a position where failing to report this issue would be neglectful and definitely wouldn’t be helping to benefit his ‘patients’ (the players). As the risk, in this case long term health consequences, was foreseeable and of high probability of occurring, then allowing the practice to continue could be considered negligent (Kerridge, Lowe, & Stewart, 2013). In bringing cases of negligence to trial, the tribunals must ask “what risks would a reasonable person be able to foresee?” and “what would a reasonable person do in response” (Kerridge, Lowe, & Stewart, 2013, p. 206) and based on the evidence it is clear that stopping this illegal practice would be the appropriate response. Not only are the drugs dangerous, but they are banned, and taking them is going against anti-doping legislation. This seems like a simple conflict with a simple resolution, however, the club has offered Kamil a pay raise in exchange for his silence, which could help his family. Kamil is now faced with commitment to helping his family, versus being honest and remaining in accordance with his professional regulations and the law. Kamil has to weigh up whether his commitment to his family and loyalty to his employer is more important than his ethical and legal responsibilities as a health care
These dilemmas are conflicting and require analysis to come to a resolution. The main issues circle around whether he should remain loyal to his club and employer by staying quiet, or follow the professional standards which he is bound to by being a health care professional, and report this misconduct. As a health care professional, Kamil should be acting in accordance with the principle of ‘above all, do no harm’; having knowledge that the use of Thymosin beta-4 causes long term health issues puts Kamil into a position where failing to report this issue would be neglectful and definitely wouldn’t be helping to benefit his ‘patients’ (the players). As the risk, in this case long term health consequences, was foreseeable and of high probability of occurring, then allowing the practice to continue could be considered negligent (Kerridge, Lowe, & Stewart, 2013). In bringing cases of negligence to trial, the tribunals must ask “what risks would a reasonable person be able to foresee?” and “what would a reasonable person do in response” (Kerridge, Lowe, & Stewart, 2013, p. 206) and based on the evidence it is clear that stopping this illegal practice would be the appropriate response. Not only are the drugs dangerous, but they are banned, and taking them is going against anti-doping legislation. This seems like a simple conflict with a simple resolution, however, the club has offered Kamil a pay raise in exchange for his silence, which could help his family. Kamil is now faced with commitment to helping his family, versus being honest and remaining in accordance with his professional regulations and the law. Kamil has to weigh up whether his commitment to his family and loyalty to his employer is more important than his ethical and legal responsibilities as a health care