Ethical issues in whistleblowing

Blog Entry
Roland Njoh

Whistleblowing involves an individual speaking out to the general public or an individual about a situation which they think is unethical and may be causing them direct or indirect harm.
According to Fost, physicians and healthcare workers are more likely to discuss medical error with their peers than with the patient involved.

A decision to blow the whistle is often not an easy one to make. Careful consideration about career advancement opportunities and professional relationships are evaluated. The target of the accusation always suffers even though some accusations may be futile.

The author elaborates on the principle most greatly cherished by healthcare professional “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; treat your colleagues the way you would want to be treated." He further explains the flaw of the Golden Rule by questioning the actual meaning of the word “others”, does it imply fellow physicians, or does it patent to the patient?

There will always be differences in the manner in which every healthcare provider practices but the ultimate goal is to provide patients with the best possible care available. It is the duty of every healthcare provider to be proactive on blowing the whistle when gross negligence is observed. At that point, it will be the sole responsibility of the patients to decide whether or not to file a law sue for compensation. In some cases, a law sue is imperative in other to manage the acquired disability secondary to negligence.

I agree with the author on the point that it is our ethical decision to report gross negligence to the patient involved and to make sure that such healthcare providers are given the necessary help to ensure that such an error does not happen again.

Reference:Fost Norman (2001): Ethical Issues in Whistleblowing. University of Wisconsin Schoolof Medicin. JAMA. 286:1079: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/286/9/1079