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an agreed timeframe; if not, a new time must be negotiated. In the quality of service
responsibility, the service must meet its desired goal so far as the client is con
cerned, and it must have the expected value. The consequence responsibility
involves the safety of the client from harm, both physical and fi nancial, after receiv
ing the service. The provider must take all these responsibilities seriously.

Product Responsibilities If the contract between the provider and the client involves
a product, the provider has the responsibility to deliver the product agreed upon on
time, in good shape and of quality , and to provide documentation for the safe use of
the product. The provider of the product is responsible for all liabilities that might
arise as a result of use of the product. In liability cases, the provider responsibility
depends on the contract and the degree of harm. We say more about liabilities in
Chaps. 6 and 8 .

Consequential Responsibilities In a television medical drama episode I watched,
an operating room scene showed a female doctor dancing to a reggae tune while
operating on a patient and unknowingly sewing the patient up with a surgical metal
clip still in the patient’s chest. In the next scene the patient has died and the autopsy
shows the metal clip is still in his chest. Before the results of the autopsy, the doctor
remembers her error and naturally becomes remorseful, not knowing whether to tell
the family right away or wait until the medical report is issued. She knows full well
that whatever the case, the family is going to sue her and the hospital, and probably
her job at that hospital and her medical career are over. There is remorse on the part
of the doctor and anger on the part of the patient’s family, all because one person did
not fulfi ll her responsibilities.

Remorse and anger are aftereffects of an action gone wrong, in this case a profes
sional service. Whether a professional has provided a service or a product, there are
always aftereffects of that action. Oftentimes one is praised for a service well done
and the best product ever provided, but there are also times when one is remorseful
because a service did not produce what it was intended to or a product did not live
up to expectations. In the worst case scenario the service or product may cause
physical or fi nancial harm to the client. In such cases, one expects liabilities for the
service or product, and the professional must accept those consequential responsi
bilities. In the case of the doctor, the service she provided fell short of what was
expected, and she had to face the consequential responsibilities of her actions,
which at times not only include the parties involved but may also involve innocent
bystanders.