BUS4474 Cases Question: Mary, the director of nursing at a regional blood bank, is concerned about the declining number of blood donors. It’s May, and Mary knows that the approaching summer will mean increased demands for blood and decreased supplies, esp

BUS4474 Cases

Question:

Mary, the director of nursing at a regional blood bank, is concerned about the declining number of blood donors. It’s May, and Mary knows that the approaching summer will mean increased demands for blood and decreased supplies, especially of rare blood types. She is excited, therefore, when a large corporation offers to host a series of blood drives at all of its locations, beginning at corporate headquarters. Soon after Mary and her staff arrive at the corporate site, Mary hears a disturbance. Apparently, a nurse named Peggy was drawing blood from a male donor with a very rare blood type when the donor fondled her breast. Peggy jumped back and began to cry. Joe, a male colleague, sprang to Peggy defense and told the donor to leave the premises. To Mary’s horror, the male donor was a senior manager with the corporation. What is the ethical dilemma in this case, and what values are in conflict? How should Mary deal with Peggy, Joe, the donor, and representatives of the corporation?

Solution

Mary, the director of nursing at a regional blood bank, is concerned about the declining number of blood donors. It’s May, and Mary knows that the approaching summer will mean increased demands for blood and decreased supplies, especially of rare blood types. She is excited, therefore, when a large corporation offers to host a series of blood drives at all of its locations, beginning at corporate headquarters. Soon after Mary and her staff arrive at the corporate site, Mary hears a disturbance. Apparently, a nurse named Peggy was drawing blood from a male donor with a very rare blood type when the donor fondled her breast. Peggy jumped back and began to cry. Joe, a male colleague, sprang to Peggy defense and told the donor to leave the premises. To Mary’s horror, the male donor was a senior manager with the corporation. What is the ethical dilemma in this case, and what values are in conflict? How should Mary deal with Peggy, Joe, the donor, and representatives of the corporation?

What is the ethical dilemma in this case, and what values are in conflict?

An ethical dilemma deals with what is right and what is wrong. It is the debate between moral principles. Ethical dilemma is based on the one belief. There are two ethical dilemmas in this case. First is, if they told the donor to leave the premises then the donor will not donate the blood. His blood group is very rare and cannot found easily. His blood can save the life of the person. And secondly, it is not ethical to let him stay in the premises because he misbehaves with the Peggy which is not acceptable and against the ethics of that premises. Conflicting values are responsibility, trust, quality, respect and honesty.

How should Mary deal with Peggy, Joe, the donor, and representatives of the corporation?

As Marry is the director of the nursing at the regional blood bank so it is her responsibility to handle the situation in the right manner and also has to follow the ethics of the premise. Mary should ask the donor to accept his mistake and give apologies for that. Mary should ask the Peggy to forgive the donor as his blood is rare and will save the life of the person. She should tell the full incident to the representatives of the corporation as she is the director and this is her responsibility.

Reference

DeGeorge, R. (1999), Business Ethics, Prentice Hall, New Jersey (5th ed.).