Scenario-Based Report (35 Marks)
As the financial manager of Greenleaf Hospital, you are facing an ethical dilemma involving a patient, John Doe, who requires urgent medical treatment that is not covered under the existing medical aid authorization. The hospital must navigate financial constraints while upholding ethical and professional responsibilities in patient care. You are tasked with developing a comprehensive financial and ethical
strategy to address this situation while ensuring compliance with healthcare policies.
Instructions
Utilize the compulsory reading along with additional research, properly cited using the Harvard
referencing system, to prepare a comprehensive report for the hospital’s board of directors. The report should analyze the impact of deontological and consequentialist ethical philosophies on patient care, assess their implications on the hospital’s financial performance, and provide well-reasoned, practical recommendations for remedial action.
Deliverables and Marking Criteria (Total: 35 Marks)

1. Introduction (5 Marks)
   • Provide a concise introduction to the scenario.
   • Clearly outline the key financial and ethical challenges faced by Greenleaf Hospital.
   • Justify the relevance of the issue within the broader context of healthcare financial management and ethics.
2. Ethical Analysis (15 Marks)
   • Critically evaluate the situation using deontological ethics and consequentialist philosophy.
   • Discuss how these ethical frameworks influence decision-making in patient care and financial strategy.
   • Use journal references (minimum of four) to support your analysis.
   • Draw clear connections between ethical considerations and financial implications.
3. Strategic Recommendations (15 Marks)
   • Develop a well-researched strategy to address both financial and ethical concerns while prioritizing patient care.
   • Include innovative approaches, such as alternative funding models (e.g., crowdfunding, public- private partnerships, hospital charity funds) and strategic collaborations with non-profits.
   • Justify your recommendations with data, case studies, or existing best practices in healthcare management.
   • Ensure recommendations are actionable, financially viable, and ethically sound.

Compulsory Academic Reading
To ensure a robust academic foundation, students must incorporate insights from the following journal articles in their analysis:
• “Ethical dilemmas in healthcare management: A comprehensive review”
Reference: Ilori, O., Kolawole, T. O., & Olaboye, J. A. (2024). Ethical dilemmas in healthcare management: A comprehensive review. International Medical Science Research Journal, 4(6), 703–725.
Link: https://www.fepbl.com/index.php/imsrj/article/view/1251/1478

Summary: This comprehensive review explores various ethical dilemmas in healthcare management, emphasizing the balance between financial constraints and ethical obligations. It discusses theoretical
frameworks, including deontology and consequentialism, and their application in real-world scenarios.
• “Utilitarianism and the ethical foundations of cost-effectiveness analysis”
Reference: Johri, M., & Norheim, O. F. (2019). Utilitarianism and the ethical foundations of cost- effectiveness analysis. Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine, 14(1), 5.
Link: https://peh-med.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13010-019-0074-7

Summary: This article examines the utilitarian principles underlying cost-effectiveness analysis in
healthcare, providing insights into how consequentialist ethics can inform financial decision-making in medical settings.
• “The theorisation of ‘best interests’ in bioethical accounts of decision-making”
Reference: Birchley, G. (2021). The theorisation of ‘best interests’ in bioethical accounts of decision- making. BMC Medical Ethics, 22(1), 68.
Link: https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12910-021-00636-0

Summary: This paper delves into the concept of ‘best interests’ in medical ethics, discussing its
theoretical underpinnings and implications for decision-making, relevant to both deontological and consequentialist perspectives.
*Students are also required to supplement their analysis with at least four additional credible sources.

Problem-Solving Exercise (35 Marks) Scenario:
Using your calculations, critically analyze and discuss the potential financial risks or challenges that FAST Hospital may encounter in the upcoming quarter. Based on your analysis of the identified financial risks facing FAST Hospital in the upcoming quarter, propose well-reasoned solutions to mitigate these
challenges. Your response should incorporate ethical considerations and sustainable financial practices, ensuring that the proposed strategies align with both financial stability and responsible healthcare management.
Data Provided:
The following information is provided for FAST Hospital:

Additional Information:

1. The bank reconciliation has no reconciling entries.
2. The balance reported on 30 June 2024 is R550,000.00.
3. Fixed operating costs amount to R170,000.00 per month.
4. Provisional tax of R15,000.00 is due in August.
5. 60% of the total monthly sales are cash sales. The company pays a commission of 5% to agents, based on the total sales generated per month. 50% of the commission is paid in the month
   following the occurrence of the sale, with the remaining balance paid in the second month after the sale. The Credit sales are collected as follows:

• 35% is collected after 30 days of sale (in the month following the sale). The company grants a settlement discount of 1,5% on all payments received within 60 days.
• 25% is collected after 60 days of the sale (two months following the sale).
• 10% is collected after 90 days of sale (in the third month following the sale).
• The balance is handed over to attorneys to collect.

1. Purchases are on credit and settled in full in the month following the purchase. The cost of sales reported comprise of purchases, wages and depreciation. The wages comprise 30% of the cost of sales after accounting foor the monthly depreciation of R 5000.

Deliverables:

1. Financial Schedules (10 Marks):
   o Debtors Collection Schedule: Prepare a schedule for July to September 2024, detailing the expected cash inflows from credit sales.
   o Cash Budget: Develop a cash budget for the same period, incorporating all relevant cash inflows and outflows.
2. Analysis and Insights (15 Marks):
   o Financial Risk Analysis: Using your calculations, critically analyze and discuss the
   potential financial risks or challenges that FAST Hospital may encounter in the upcoming quarter.
   o Strategic Recommendations: Based on your analysis, propose well-reasoned solutions to mitigate these challenges. Your response should incorporate ethical considerations and sustainable financial practices, ensuring that the proposed strategies align with both financial stability and responsible healthcare management.
   Marking Criteria:
   • Financial Schedules (10 Marks):
   o Accuracy and completeness of the debtors collection schedule.
   o Comprehensiveness and precision of the cash budget.
   • Analysis and Insights (15 Marks):
   o Depth and criticality of the financial risk analysis.
   o Relevance, feasibility, and ethical grounding of the strategic recommendations. Submission Guidelines:
   • Format: The report should be professionally structured, with clear headings and subheadings.
   • Length: Approximately 2,000 words, excluding schedules and references.
   • Referencing: Use the Harvard referencing system for any external sources cited.

Answers to Above Questions on Financial Management

Answer 1: In the given case scenario of Greenleaf Hospital, it is evaluated that the ethical dilemma involving the patient John Doe suggests that …

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