If you were Betty, what would you do?

Betty, the chief nursing officer, had to make a decision about buying 120 new hospital beds for patient rooms. After she interviewed nurse mangers at the units where the beds were going to be placed, Betty compiled her findings and decided to contact a well-known equipment company to obtain prices and contracts. The equipment company’s executive salesperson, Jim, discussed options at length with her and invited her and her significant other to an upcoming all-expenses-paid lavish retreat at a five-star hotel in Hawaii to see demonstrations of the beds and to hear a comprehensive sales pitch. Betty thought to herself, “We badly need some relaxation and stress relief. Hawaii would be so much fun. Would it be wrong for us to go?”
If you were Betty, what would you do? Give your rationale. Justify your answer with an ethical framework—a theory, approach, or principle.
Do you consider this situation a conflict of interest? Why or why not? Give your rationale.
What policies, if any, should be in place regarding a scenario such as this one? Do you have any such policies in place at work for similar situations? Do such policies impact day-to-day activities in any way? Explain.
ANSWER
**What would I do if I were Betty?**
If I were Betty, I would decline the invitation to the lavish retreat in Hawaii. I would explain to Jim that I appreciate the offer, but that I do not feel comfortable attending a personal event sponsored by a company that I am considering doing business with.
**Rationale:**
I would make this decision based on the ethical principle of **avoidance of conflicts of interest**. A conflict of interest is a situation in which a person’s personal interests could influence their professional judgment. In this case, Betty’s personal interest in having a relaxing vacation in Hawaii could influence her decision to purchase hospital beds from the equipment company, even if the beds are not the best product or value for the hospital.
**Is this situation a conflict of interest?**
Yes, I consider this situation to be a conflict of interest. Betty has a personal interest in having a relaxing vacation, and the equipment company has a financial interest in selling her hospital beds. These two interests are in conflict, because Betty’s personal interest could influence her decision to purchase the beds, even if they are not the best product or value for the hospital.
**What policies, if any, should be in place regarding this type of scenario?**
Many organizations have policies in place to address conflicts of interest. These policies typically prohibit employees from accepting gifts or favors from vendors or other business partners. The policies may also require employees to disclose any potential conflicts of interest to their supervisor.
**Do I have any such policies in place at work?**
Yes, my employer has a policy on conflicts of interest. The policy prohibits employees from accepting gifts or favors from vendors or other business partners with a value of more than $25. The policy also requires employees to disclose any potential conflicts of interest to their supervisor.
**Do such policies impact day-to-day activities in any way?**
Yes, such policies can impact day-to-day activities in a number of ways. For example, employees may need to be more careful about accepting gifts or favors from vendors. They may also need to be more mindful of their actions to avoid creating the appearance of a conflict of interest.
In the case of Betty, the hospital’s conflict of interest policy would likely prohibit her from accepting the invitation to the lavish retreat in Hawaii. The policy may also require her to disclose the invitation to her supervisor.
**Conclusion**
It is important for healthcare professionals to be aware of the ethical implications of their decisions. By avoiding conflicts of interest, healthcare professionals can help to ensure that their decisions are made in the best interests of their patients and the organization they work for.