Prog. Director's ethical IMG-Hiring dilemma

On a case article published on the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics, Dr. Peter Bundred writes a very interesting commentary about the ethical concerns that prevailed in Dr. Wilson's decision to hire an IMG from Ghana to fill her Family Medicine residency programs, after positions were unfilled in the Match.

What's carries a higher moral weight ?

- The program directors role & duty to try to have a filled residency program ?

OR

- The Duty that the IMG has back to his own country ?

OR

- The IMGs' desire to get into a US Residency ?

Hiring an IMG would mean deprive the country of another physician, but also give the IMG a much better education, better earning ($2700 / year residency income in Ghana versus $45,000 - $50,000 / year in USA) and indirectly help Ghana through the money he/she will send back home.

The article walks us through the various pros and cons of this ethical Question and and aptly, concludes the following:

"As in so many ethical and moral dilemmas, there are no clearly right or wrong answers for Dr. Wilson and the Ghanaian physician. Very often the solution to such problems lies in a compromise. By setting up an exchange plan, Dr. Wilson and the Ghanaian physician could produce a win-win solution to what is a complex moral dilemma" Read Article Here

Hmm..maybe something like a compulsory medicine / surgery rotation back in the home country for every IMG ?

Now on resident interviews, plenty of IMGs have had situation since years where a Program director might raise a similar issue by asking why should you plan the US and not your own country - possibly a reference to this article might come in handy.

And BY THE WAY ! And what's the most striking part of the article ? Let your eyes scroll to References and check out No. 8 - Yeah ! The article uses MDsalaries Blog as an official reference...he he..about time ;-) ;-) ;-)

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Is ur mindset flexible enough to ?