Discussion: Ethical Decision-Making
An inpatient coder has come to you as the Director of HIM concerned that she has been instructed by the coding supervisor to code all bedside debridements as excisional. In 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.
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.