The medical profession has been around since the beginning of mankind. It most likely started with women who were warm-natured and nurturing from tribes. Amazingly, we have advanced all the way to professional physicians and many other careers in the field of medicine. Although not actual laws, medical ethics are strict guidelines that most professionals follow. Health professionals most follow certain standards of conduct. These standards are beneficial to the patient, to society, and to their self.
The first principle is “a physician shall be dedicated to providing competent , with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.” Being able to provide competent medical care means the proper years of schooling and internship. You are required to pass the M-Cats to be a physician. If you can’t, then can’t practice. It is as simple as that. If you don’t have the proper knowledge of what you are doing then you shouldn’t be doing it. Having compassion and respect for human dignity and rights means that you can’t be discriminatory or one-sided.
Medicine has nothing to do with personal feelings. In the case of an emergency, a physician can’t pick and choose their patients. “A physician shall uphold the standards of professionalism, be honest in all professional interactions, and strive to report physicians deficient in character or competence, or engaging in fraud or deception, to appropriate entities.” This is the second principle of medical ethics. It is basically talking about the behavior of a health-care provider. Doctors can’t prescribe medicine to people for money. They can’t sign off on things to get particular information.
These are things that are simply not done. It is un-professional. Physicians also need to be honest. It is not right to lie to a patient or family member to make them feel better.
Honesty is extremely important to their health and decisions made about their health. It is extremely un-professional to engage in certain activities with patients. Also, if any of these behaviors are seen, then it is only ethical to report them. Not reporting it to the proper authority makes them just as bad. Physicians have to maintain certain manners to be called “professional.” Medical degrees do not give permission to do whatever one wants. However, it does give them the ability to change things if in the best interest of a patient.
This pertains to the third principle, “A physician shall respect the law and also recognize a responsibility to seek changes in those requirements which are contrary to the best interests of the patient.” Doctors must abide by laws of the county, state, city, and district. They might be held in approbation do to their profession but they are to be treated the same as any other law-abiding citizen. Also, a circumstance might appear where the doctor needs to “bend” the rules. This can’t be done legally without approval. However, it is their responsibility to advocate for that rule to be changed. Physicians need to make sure they are doing what is in the best interest of the patient no matter what.
“A physician shall respect the rights of patients, colleagues, and other health professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences and privacy within the constraints of the law.” This principle is important. Doctors have to up-hold their patient’s right to confidentiality. If a patient declares that they don’t wish for their family members to know of an illness, then the physician is bound by law not to reveal any information. The only reason a doctor can expose any information about a patient, is if a patient has done anything illegal or has done something to endanger the health of another living being.
It is extremely important for physicians to respect their patients and the people they work with. Medicine is a very critical career. They need to respect all decisions of patients and colleagues. If not, it creates a dreadful environment for any person to be in. Just because you have passes medical schooling and became a health care provider, doesn’t mean you are finished learning. “A physician shall continue to study, apply, and advance scientific knowledge, maintain a commitment to medical education, make relevant information available to patients, colleagues, and the public, obtain consultation, and use the talents of other health professionals when indicated.
” This principle is extremely important. We are inventing new things and discovering new things everyday. If a physician does not learn these, he could be endangering the life of a patient. It should be a physicians desire to continue the study of medicine. Hopefully, they are eager to learn improved procedures, new equipment, and even new medicines. All of this could not only help save a patient’s life, but it could add time to that of a terminally ill patient.
Doctors are able to choose where they work. They are not shipped to certain places against their will like the military. They choose the office or hospital. “A physician shall, in the provision of appropriate patient care, except in emergencies, be free to choose whom to serve, with whom to associate, and the environment in which to provide medical care.” This principle is more of an ethic for the actual physicians themselves.
It is to their benefit to have the right to choose their place of work and whom they work with. Sometimes, it may seem they don’t have a choice. Ultimately, the have the right to leave or enter any place to provide care. “A physician shall recognize a responsibility to participate in activities contributing to the improvement of the community and the betterment of public health. “Most physicians feel a responsibility to give their patients the best care possible. This involves reaching out in the community and getting important health care issues held.
If they don’t get the important views out then they can’t change anything. It is impossible to change what is not known. It is not required for doctors to do such things, but it is expected. Since they hold such a prestigious position, they are looked upon as an important part of the community whose voice is important to hear.
A health care provider is responsible for his or her patient. It is their job to try and treat a patient in the best way possible. “A physician shall, while caring for a patient, regard responsibility to the patient as paramount.” They should look at a patient’s life as one of their own. They are responsible for the patient while they are under their care. It is important to say the right things and give the right advice. It is a physician’s responsibility to take care of their patient correctly.
Last, but certainly not least, “A physician shall support access to medical care for all people.” No person should be turned down because of gender, race, or social standing. No one should be turned down for medical care in any situation. Everyone living being has a right to medical care for him or herself and loved ones. Even if they don’t have enough money, they are still permitted the same right as everyone else. All physicians should advocate for the right of medical care to all people. Health care providers shouldn’t be doing their job for the money.
True doctors are caring people who have saving lives on their minds. No true doctor could ever turn down any patient in need of medical assistance. Medical ethics are extremely important to society. It creates an atmosphere of safety and trust with our doctors. This is what makes us go to the hospital when we are sick, or take medicine prescribed to us. Doctors are not required to follow these ethics by law, but by job title are very much required to abide by them.
Without medical ethics, the medical field would be uncontrolled and chaotic.