Ethics Vignette VII: Veterans with ALS-Veterans with ALS

Veterans with ALS

Pdf Summary

This document discusses a clinical case involving a Vietnam veteran diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who is found to have multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) instead. The patient and his wife request to maintain the ALS diagnosis to continue receiving disability payments. The physician faces ethical dilemmas related to justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, and autonomy. It is emphasized that changing the diagnosis to benefit financially is unethical. The document also touches upon Veterans Affairs benefits and regulations related to ALS, highlighting the importance of fair resource allocation. The physician is advised to chart the correct diagnosis of MMN and encourage local treatment to uphold ethical principles. Subsequent scenarios involving disability applications and expert witness requests underscore the physician's duty to prioritize justice in resource distribution and honest medical opinions. The document concludes with additional resources for understanding ethical issues in clinical practice. Overall, the narrative emphasizes the importance of ethical decision-making in medical practice, specifically in the context of complex patient situations and financial incentives.

Keywords

clinical case

Vietnam veteran

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ALS

multifocal motor neuropathy

MMN

ethical dilemmas

disability payments

Veterans Affairs benefits

resource allocation

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ALS