SCENARIO
MEDICAL DILEMMAS
42
4.4
SITUATION
1
a
Work with a partner. Read about the pharmaceutical company
RXZ and discuss the questions.
1
In your opinion, was the doctor’s mistake very serious, quite serious,
or not very serious? Give reasons.
2
What do you think is the best way for RXZ to deal with the problem?
RXZ is an international company with its Head Office in a
European country. Like all pharmaceutical firms, it has to deal with
problems concerning confidential medical data about the drugs it is
developing, and also with ethical issues that arise from time to time.
The Human Resources Department (HRD) is currently dealing with
the following problem.
The company often asks doctors to trial new drugs. One of the
doctors who frequently does this kind of work for the company
didn’t tell his patient that he was trialling a new drug. He was
doing research for RXZ, but without the permission of the patient.
The patient has found out what the doctor was doing and is now
threatening to take legal action against RXZ.
1
b
Work with other pairs and compare your answers.
KEY LANGUAGE
DISCUSSING IMPLICATIONS
2
4.6
Two members of the HRD,
Sandra and Hans, are talking about the
problem. Which possible solutions do
they mention?
1
Emphasise the good qualities of the
doctor to gain the patient’s cooperation.
2
Advise the patient to continue using
the drug and persuade her to take no
further action.
3
Offer her money to stop her taking
legal action against the company.
4
Explain that the doctor was trying to
give the patient the best treatment
currently available.
5
Say that there is an effective
alternative drug that can replace the
drug she is taking.
5
