Medical

ethics
Medical ethics is a
system of moral
principles that apply
values and judgments
to the practice of
medicine
• Ethics does NOT decide what is morally right
or wrong; rather it considers how we should
act best in the light of our duties and
obligations as moral agents
• Ethics deals with the choices we make and
our actions in relation to those choices.
• It deals with choices made by both clinicians
and patients.
• Medical ethics also deals with the choices
made by society.
Greek healers in the 4th Century
B.C., drafted the Hippocratic Oath
and pledged to “ prescribe regimens for the
good of my patients according to my ability and
my judgment and never do harm to anyone”.
 Human Rights
American declaration of
independence
• “All human beings are
born FREE and EQUAL in
dignity and rights.’’

so.
“All humans should be treated equally”
“All humans should be treated fairly”
“All humans should be given an equal
consideration of their interests”
 principles of Medical
Ethics
1. Respect for autonomy
2. Beneficence
3. Non-maleficence
4. Justice
5. Confidentiality
6. veracity
Autonomy –
The patient
has the right
to refuse or
choose their
treatment.
Beneficence
–
A practitioner
should act in
the best
interest of the
patient.
NoN-
maleficeNce –

"first, do no harm"

We have been given the gift of life, for goodness sakes.

Protect it!!! Respect it!!!
Justice –
the decision of
who gets what
treatment
(fairness and
equality).
is commonly applied to
conversations between doctors
and patients. This concept is
commonly known as patient-
physician privilege.
Legal protections prevent
physicians from revealing
their discussions with
patients, even under oath in
court.
DigNity –
The patient (and
the person
treating the
patient) have the
right to dignity.

The spirit of humanity, respecting

the worth of each person
Veracity
The principle of
veracity refers to
telling the truth.
Medical personnel
hold a position of trust
in the community and
their veracity
promotes
accountability and
overall
professionalism.
Other values which are sometimes discussed include:

Respect for persons

Truthfulness and honesty

informed consent
 What is “Consent?”
• Defined as permission,
approval, or assent
What is “INFORMED Consent?”

• Consent given by the patient based on knowledge

of the procedure to be performed, including its risks
and benefits, as well as alternatives to the proposed
treatment.
 relationships
Doctor–patient relationship
Most universities teach
students from the beginning,
even before they set foot in
hospitals, to maintain a
professional rapport with
patients, uphold patients’
dignity, and respect their
privacy.
Fundamental Elements of the
Patient-Physician Relationship
(1) The patient has the right to receive information
(2) The patient has the right to make decisions

(3) The patient has the right respect, dignity,

responsiveness.

(4) The patient has the right to confidentiality.

(5) The patient has the right to continuity of health

care.

(6) The patient has a basic right to have available

adequate health care
When a Doctor May Dismiss a
Patient

•Patient non-compliance
•Patient's failure to keep
appointments.
•A patient's rude or obnoxious
behavior.
•Non-payment of bills
•A relatively new reason for
dismissal seems to be based on
the type of insurance a patient
has.
The pateint also have the
right to refuse the doctor if
the doctor treated the pateint
unethically and also can
report the physician
THE PHYSICIAN-PHYSICIAN RELATIONSHIP

1. Physicians have a
responsibility to maintain
moral integrity, intellectual
honesty, and clinical
competence.

2. Physicians, as stewards of
medical knowledge, have
an obligation to educate
and share information with
colleagues, including
physicians-in-training.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE PHYSICIAN TO SYSTEMS OF CARE

1. The physician's duty of patient should not be altered by

the system of health care delivery in which the physician
practices.

2. Physicians should resolve conflicts of interest in a fashion

that gives primacy to the patient’s interests

3. Physicians should provide knowledgeable input into

organizational decisions on the allocation of medical
resources and the process of health care delivery.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE PHYSICIAN TO SOCIETY
1. Physicians have a responsibility
to serve the health care needs
of all members of society.

2. Physicians have an ethical

obligation to participate in the
formation of health care policy.

3. Physicians have an ethical

obligation to preserve and
protect the trust bestowed on
them by society.
 GETTING PAID
Dealing With Patients Who Don’t Pay
The way your office staff handles payment problems with
patients reflects on your entire practice, and the outcome can
have a significant effect on your staff’s satisfaction and your
bottom line. Here are a few tips for helping your staff manage
difficult situations.
 When patients don’t want to make
their co-pays
(“My insurance company pays you. Why
do I have to pay too?”)

for example, that the insurance

company allows $42 for the
service (despite the fact that your
full fee is $50) and pays you $32
because the patient’s health
insurance contract says he owes
a $10 co-pay at each visit.
When patients say they can’t pay

You and your staff

have probably heard
these excuses a
million times: “I don’t
have my checkbook
[or cash or a credit
card]” or “I lost my
checkbook.”
Another good
idea is to make
sure your
practice accepts
credit cards.
When patients want two
visits for the price of one
When patients get angry
 When patients get angry
•Train your staff to listen first.
Once the patient has calmed down,
your staff member should assure the
patient.
•Make sure your staff follows up with
the patient.
•Encourage your staff to not take the
patient’s anger personally.