Thou shalt not bear false witness
Most medical ethics issues are brain teasers, but occasionally they are just no brainers. Take this case brought before the UK’s medical registration board, the General Medical Council. Dr Alan Howlett, a general practitioner from Devon, was suspended for 10 months because he failed to disclose that he had been named a beneficiary in the will of an elderly woman in his care.
He lied on the form which authorised her cremation and stated that he had no pecuniary interest in her death. Furthermore, he failed to honour an agreement with his partners to disclose any such bequests. A remorseful Dr Howlett was told that “the offence for which you were cautioned is one which is particularly serious in professional terms”.
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Michael Cook edits BioEdge, a bioethics newsletter, and MercatorNet, an on-line magazine whose focus is human dignity. He writes from Sydney, Australia.
Latest posts by Michael Cook (see all)
- How long can you put off seeing the doctor because of lockdowns? - December 3, 2021
- House of Lords debates assisted suicide—again - October 28, 2021
- Spanish government tries to restrict conscientious objection - October 28, 2021
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