Question

Assume that the clinic is located in a small town. If it discontinues treating the HD patients, they will be forced to drive 50 miles to the nearest alternative treatment center. Does the clinic have a moral obligation to society to continue to provide HD service although it is not profitable to do so?

Answer 1

Medical is a more of a service than profession. It is the responsibility of the medical professionals to serve the society by providing services to the patients. Profitability cannot be a main objective of a clinic. Thus, in this case even if treating HD patients is not profitable for the clinic it has to provide treatments to HD patients as in this case the health of patients is more important than profitability. Considering the fact that the HD patients will have to drive 50 miles in order to be treated in case the clinic refuses to provide treatments to the HD patients hence, the clinic must continue providing treatments to HD patients as a social responsibility. The clinic does have a moral obligation to the society to continue providing HD services although it is not profitable for the clinic.