A Question of Morality

[woodrow811]

I have recently found out from a reliable source that a doctor I have known for some years (who was married) has had repeated affairs with his married employees and allegedly been involved in multiple other affairs in his past. He also had declared bankruptcy three years ago while making six figures. He presents himself as a Christian family man and advertises his business as a "Christian based" business in TV, but his actions certainly do not support either claim. Would you continue to give a doctor who behaves like him your business?

[Jima64]

Wow oh wow. :loco:

[JSR22]

I don't believe my Dr.'s personal life matters. If he or she is treating me correctly I would not care what he/she does outside of the office.

[queasy27]

I wouldn't believe unsubstantiated rumors, but I did stop seeing Dr. Hamnik after her DUI. I didn't much like her anyway, but that was the straw. My belief is that if people conduct their personal lives in a reckless and feckless fashion, that behavior will inevitably seep into their business lives as well.

In this example, if true, his hypocrisy in pretending to be a Christian family man would disgust me enough to stop seeing him. But I'm kind of a doctor-shopper anyway. I left one in the past because his front office staff was incompetent. Not worth the hassle.

[Lovey2]

I remember right before my corrective eye surgery someone "in the know" told me my doctor did drugs regularly!! My response was, "I hope he doesn't try to quit the day he does my surgery. I don't need him suffering withdrawal while working on my eyes." In reality, he was a well known doctor and had operated on many people I knew. My surgery went flawlessly and 20 years later I can still see. He didn't question my morality, religion or ethnicity, nor did I question him. I can't see how that would have mattered. Your reliable source may very well be an ex-wife or dumped paramour...hey, maybe even a duped husband. Judge not...(you know the rest)

[Carl in Tampa]

I would hesitate to make decisions about my health care provider based upon gossip, no matter how "reliable" the source. Unless the source was a participant in the sexual encounters, there is no proof.

Assuming the worst, that it is all true, and that you would no longer do business with him...... would you take a similar attitude towards your:

1. Accountant
2. Dentist
3. Hair dresser
4. Newspaper delivery person
5. Next door neighbor
6. Card playing companions
7. Entertainers at the Town Squares

Going back to your health care provider; would you leave him if you discovered (for sure) that he was:

1. Homosexual
2. A shoplifter
3. A Jew
4. A Catholic
5. A Mormon
6. An Atheist
7. A Satanist
8. A racist
9. Formerly in a mental institution

OR............ are you better off to simply get assurance that your doctor is competent, functioning within the law, without a history of incompetence or malpractice, and is striving to keep you healthy and treat your illnesses?

Each of us must follow his own conscience in our relationships with others.

[justjim]

I would hesitate to make decisions about my health care provider based upon gossip, no matter how "reliable" the source. Unless the source was a participant in the sexual encounters, there is no proof.

Assuming the worst, that it is all true, and that you would no longer do business with him...... would you take a similar attitude towards your:

1. Accountant
2. Dentist
3. Hair dresser
4. Newspaper delivery person
5. Next door neighbor
6. Card playing companions
7. Entertainers at the Town Squares

Going back to your health care provider; would you leave him if you discovered (for sure) that he was:

1. Homosexual
2. A shoplifter
3. A Jew
4. A Catholic
5. A Mormon
6. An Atheist
7. A Satanist
8. A racist
9. Formerly in a mental institution

OR............ are you better off to simply get assurance that your doctor is competent, functioning within the law, without a history of incompetence or malpractice, and is striving to keep you healthy and treat your illnesses?

Each of us must follow his own conscience in our relationships with others.

"It has been my Experence that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.". Abraham Lincoln That said, your last statement resonates with me. "Each of us must follow his own conscience in our relationships with others."

[woodrow811]

So we turn a blind eye as long as they can still provide adequate services? I tend to believe if someone is willing to lie repeatedly to someone they care for (the spouse), abuse/cheat the system (bankruptcy), why should we assume that they will exercise sound judgment and be truthful with us?

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist."

[rubicon]

To me the OP's description would not be an issue of morality but it would be for the quality of care.

How does one decide what is gossip and innuendo vis a vis what has a basis of fact?

That is something that can't be discussed here because of the absent of identity of people offering said facts, body language etc so much which would be lost in translation.

However, if true a bigger concern for me is that this doc appears to be into more than womanizing and I'll venture a guess, again if true, that this guy is doing drugs also and that is bigger concern for me.

My occupation placed me in constant contact with both the legal and medical communities both of which are no different than any other occupation.

My neighbor across the street in the 1980's was a doc who was into both woman and drugs and he destroyed a wife and three of the nicest kids I ever met. Everyone was aware of what this guy was doing because you just can't hide affairs people watcher just know

Doctor patient relationships are sacrosant and so a patient's personal opinion on drugs, illicit sex are critical because it could cause a breach at a critical time in treatment

so if the rumors were really strong enough and well placed and if a peson morally objects then they need to find another doc