Medical ethics
Medical ethics is an applied branch of ethics that analyzes the practice of clinical medicine and the science related to it. It is a set of values that can help resolve conflicts. The principles of medical ethics include beneficence and nonmaleficence. If applied correctly, they will guide medical practices and the research that supports them.
Responsibilities of a physician
As a physician, your primary responsibility is to uphold high standards of professionalism and honesty. You should also avoid collaborating with individuals who violate scientific principles or the laws governing medicine. You should also protect the public from incompetent physicians. In addition, you should observe the law and seek to change it where necessary, if it does not serve your patients' interests. And, of course, you should protect patient privacy.
Principles of medical ethics
The principles of medical ethics are a set of rules that guide physicians in their professional behavior. While these principles are not law, they should be followed to achieve the highest standard of ethical behavior. Physicians should strive to serve humanity by treating patients with dignity and respect. They should also work to improve their professional skills and knowledge so that they can better serve patients.
Duty of beneficence
The Duty of Beneficence is a basic principle of medical ethics that states that the physician has a duty to act in the best interest of the patient. This principle supports a number of other moral rules, such as a physician's duty to prevent harm or remove conditions that could potentially harm the patient. It also supports the physician's duty to provide assistance to the sick and disabled, and to save lives when possible. However, it can be challenging to balance competing ethical obligations in the midst of a complex patient-physician-patient relationship.
Nonmaleficence
One of the most common ethical dilemmas in medical ethics is the question of how to balance beneficence and nonmaleficence, or the principle of doing no harm. In essence, this principle means that a physician should not perform a procedure with the purpose of causing harm to a patient. It is a key component of informed consent, which outlines the risks and benefits of a medical intervention before the doctor or health care provider makes any decisions. In order for a treatment to be considered ethical, the benefits must outweigh the risks.
Distributive justice
Distributive justice in medical ethics is the notion that people should be treated with respect and equity. The term is meant to be inclusive and not exclusive, and it requires that medical practices be anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-transphobic, and anti-discriminatory. In addition, it calls for reparations to those who have suffered harm in the past, and a commitment to transparency.
Professionalism
Many medical students instinctively associate professionalism with dressing appropriately, being on time, and displaying knowledge in a specific area. However, the definition of medical professionalism is not as simple as that, and experts have differing perspectives. Therefore, it is important for premeds to think beyond these cliches and define professionalism in terms that are meaningful to them. For example, one proposed definition describes medical professionalism as a lifestyle and profession defined by values. Another definition sees medical professionalism as embodying these values and integrating them into a person's identity.
