Prompt: You are to base your paper upon the assigned case found in Appendix A. This culminating assignment should pull from many of the topics and resources utilized throughout this course. Your paper will be graded based on communication, originality, critical thinking, integration, and Christian worldview. Review the Grading Rubric for specific criteria (Appendix A).
Prepare the Portfolio Project using the following guidelines:
1,500 – 2,000 words
APA-compliant formatting, including title and reference pages
Include Biblical Foundations application section (500 – 750 words)
Minimum of five scholarly references
You are the director of pharmacy at a large regional medical center. It has come to your attention that Dr. Smith, a hospital oncologist, has been prescribing medicines for cancer patients that are not labeled for cancer treatment. While “off-label” prescriiption is not against the law, you now recall a recent interview Dr. Smith did on a radio talk show. During that interview Dr. Smith talked about his discovery of the effectiveness of green-tea, honey and homeopathic treatments for cancer patients. Such a “holistic” approach to medicine has a certain appeal, especially to patients who have received a poor prognosis. Many cancer patients who were told they have only a few months to live by their doctors have come to your hospital from hundreds of miles away to be treated by Dr. Smith.
In addition to his work at your hospital, Dr. Smith owns and runs a clinic located in a poor Mississippi Delta community. When your hospital recently replaced its old outdated sterilizer machines, Dr. Smith asked if he could have one of the old machines for use at his clinic. Dr. Smith is well known and most of his patients like him. Last year he received an award from a religious group for his service to the poor. However, you know that Dr. Smith recently divorced his third wife. Her lawyer, known for her aggressive style and hard bargaining, won a huge alimony and support judgment worth $3 million against Dr. Smith. Rumor is that Dr. Smith is struggling financially, because he sold one of his sports cars.
How should you handle this situation? In your paper, be sure to consider the responsibilities and interests of your department, as well as the hospital. Include the issues of insurance reimbursement, standard of care, informed consent, public image of the hospital, and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement. Are there other legal issues? Are there other moral or ethical issues?
