Question

6.8 Ethical decision-making Subdomain VI.H. 1 Comply with ethical standards of practice Subdomain VI.H.2 Evaluate the consequences of a breach of healthcare et Subdomain VI.H. 1 Comply with ethical standards of practice An inpatient coder has come to you as the Director of HIM concerned that she has bee instructed by the coding supervisor to code all bedside debridements as excisiona discussion with the coding supervisor, she explains that surgical trays are ordered for the bedside and that physicians have been ignoring the queries requesting clarification, instead telling her verbally that those debridements are always excisional. Therefore, she issued the directive to the staff. 1. Use the ethical decision making process to determine if this is an unethical situation and if so, what AHIMA Code of Ethics or AHIMA's Standards of Ethical Coding it violates 2. If it is a violation, give your opinion of what the implications might be to the coder. coding supervisor, yourself, and the organization. References AHIMA. 2011. AHIMA Code of Ethics. http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ AHIMA. 2008. AHIMA Standards of Ethical Coding, http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public ordon, L. and M. Gordon. 2016. Ethical Issues in Health Information Management. Health ahima/bokl 024277 hcspidDocName-bok1 024277 documents/ahima/bok2_001166.hcsp?dDocName-bok2 001166 Information Management: Concepts, Principles, and Practice, 5th ed. Oachs, P. and A. Watters, eds Chicago: AHIMA.

Answer 1

1)This is an unethical situation created by the physician any sort of excision should be considered sterile and procedure to be strictly done in an aseptic area.Here it is the responsibility of the physician to explain and clarify any queries raised.The coding supervisor should have raised the concern and solved it but has not done it.Here the coder cannot participate in this act.The following code of ethics can be used to take right decision " Refuse to participate in or conceal unethical practices or procedures and report such practices"

2)An act of violation leads to

• Legally sue the physician, coder,supervisor and the organization
• The patients can take monetary claims from the healthcare professionals and the organization
• The health care professionals license can be sued