Six Months

Six months makes a difference. I saw that yesterday at work. There are certain questionnaires that we have our patients fill out for treatment and research purposes. One in particular is only approved for someone over the age of 18. One of our new patients is 17 1/2 and my boss asked a research assistant, who is also my receptionist, to give the questionnaire to the girl to fill out. The assistant refused saying that the girl was not yet 18. My boss said that it was okay. The assistant said it was not. The assistant, who is a graduate student enrolled in a PhD program, said that she would not give an unapproved questionnaire to someone underage no matter who told her to do so. It is a matter of ethics.  I agreed with her but my boss did not. The assistant said she would rather quit her job than do something that is not right. My boss had to give in. She never realized that the tough stand was to protect her in case the girl reacted poorly to the questions that the survey asked. I respect the assistant for having the moral fortitude to stand up for what is right.