After cracking your tooth on a popcorn kernel, you called your dentist's office. After explaining that your pain was excruciating, you were told by the front desk receptionist that you "could get fit in immediately" by giving the receptionist "an extra $50 in cash...discreetly." Otherwise, the next available appointment would be in one week.
a. Would it be ethical for you to pay the "extra $50 in cash" if you suspect that the receptionist is going to "pocket" the cash for herself?
b. Would it be ethical for the receptionist to get you an immediate office visit if you were not required to make any cash payments and she told you that she was going to cancel another patient's routine teeth cleaning to fit you into the dentist's schedule?
c. Would it be ethical for the dentist's office to charge a $50 Urgent Appointment Premium," payable by check to the dental clinic if this was their standard policy?
d. Would it be ethical for the dentist's office to charge a $50 Urgent Appointment Premium," payable by check to the dental clinic if this was not their standard policy, but the receptionist improvised this special fee because she perceived how desperate you were?
e. Would it be ethical for the dentist's office to charge a $50 Urgent Appointment Premium," payable by check to the dental clinic if this was not their standard policy, but the receptionist saw from her computer records that you live in a zip code where "rich" people live and, therefore, would likely be willing to pay the added fee?