Ethics Scenario #60: Medical Testing Services of Harristown

60. Mindy is the executive director of the nonprofit Medical Testing Services of Harristown. Mindy has a good relationship with her board, and prides herself in dealing with as many problems as she can without resorting to having the board deal with controversial issues. To her, the perfect board meeting involves a nice lunch at a fancy hotel, a series of dog and pony shows by herself and her key staff members, accepting the kudos from grateful board members, and a quick adjournment by the chairman. But today’s telephone call from the investigative reporter from the local newspaper has caused her concern. The reporter, Carl, tells her that he understands that Dr. Richard Hastings, the organization’s Chief Medical Officer and Vice President in charge of Laboratory Operations, never really graduated from medical school, and that all of the laboratory results from the organization may be called into question as a result of Hastings’ lack of qualifications. Mindy, shocked and blind-sided by this news, masks her surprise and dismay, and calmly replies that she has “no comment.” As luck would have it, her board meeting is the following day. She decides that as executive director, it is her duty to fix the problem with the minimum amount of damage, and she makes the decision not to mention this telephone call at the board meeting.

a. Is Mindy’s behavior ethical?