Biomedical Engineering Cases >> Case 1 / Case 2

Case 1

In Hong Kong, an act of cost reduction is being carried out by combining a Recovery Centre for patients who need Prosthesis and Orthotics into one centre. The change of location from Bonham Road to Queen Mary Hospital will cause inconvenience to existing patients, as the new location is difficult to access for handicapped patients. Patient A, Mr. Lee, only needed to travel 10 minutes to the recovery center. However, after the change of location, he now needs around 35 minutes in order to reach the center, as he has to travel uphill, which is problematic due to his leg deformities. He has a history of falling down on the ground, causing minor injuries because of this.

Are there any ethical issues relating to this case? As accidents are more likely to occur during the patient's journey to the treatment venue than in the past, how should one balance the cost effectiveness vs. non-maleficence issues?