When Lies Save Lives

We are taught early in our lives that lying is bad. But how about if it's for a good cause? Time has just published an article about doctors lying in order to get better care for their patients. The example case for this article was a doctor who ordered a non-contrast CT to, as they said, look for possible kidney stones, but the real reason was to confirm a suspected inflamed appendix and get the patient into surgery even sooner. In the end, the patient benefited because the doctor's suspicion was confirmed and the appendix was taken care of. However, is this type of behavior okay to condone?

There are some cases where little white lies benefit the patient, but there are others where it's not so easy. Ordering the wrong tests or unnecessary tests means the insurance company is billed for procedures that weren't warranted and the physician is reimbursed for these expenses. Additionally, when doctors play a hunch and order the incorrect test, there's always the possibility that the results will not confirm the suspected diagnosis and then it may be harder to order the correct, more time-consuming, test because there's no backing for the suspected diagnosis. 

The question then becomes two-fold. Should doctors continue to act in such a manner? And should this behavior be openly taught to medical students so that it continues throughout the next generation? Medical students learn by watching their superiors and emulating them. When they are shown that little white lies to get around medical rules is acceptable, they are more apt to do the same. However, this has the potential to put the patient, the physician, and the entire medical industry in danger. There are rules for a reason, but sometimes these rules prevent swift action for the patient. What is the best solution?