Ethics, as a subfield of philosophy, is acquiring an increasingly important role, especially in the medical profession. However, in the context of medical ethics, when do we actually talk about ethically correct behaviour? Are medical values and decisions being pushed into the background by the cost pressure that has been weighing on German hospitals for some time now? The present paper is primarily a review of a published article describing a vignette study conducted in 2020. The study presented the case of a patient who had not yet fully recovered. The aim was to decide on the length of hospitalisation. A total of 1,239 participants were surveyed, including doctors in various positions, as well as medical students, who were asked to make a decision regarding the length of the patient?s stay in hospital. The survey, which was conducted by three doctors and one business graduate, showed that medical correctness was an important criterion. The more universalistic the values of the respondent, the more likely they were to suggest a longer stay in hospital. The less tolerant and prosocial the respondent, the more likely the patient was to be discharged. As the topic of medical ethics and economisation in German hospitals has not yet been sufficiently and clearly researched, the study is first presented and then commented on in detail. Before this, and in the interests of a better understanding of the overall topic, the field of ethics is briefly and concisely introduced and explained.  Kulcsszavak: medical ethics, hospital, patient well-being, profitability