virtues and vices of health care provider

Fidelity

In the relationship of trust, every patient must know that his healthcare giver will keep his promises and keep the patient’s best interest first in his mind

Honesty

It is telling the patient, the family, colleagues and society the truth about an illness, its nature, prognosis, effectivity of care and research findings

Integrity

It is acting in the same way one says he should act. A healthcare provider who tells his patient smoking is bad should himself not smoke.

Humility

Recognizing one’s capabilities and limitations. It is doing one’s best and asking for help as needed. It is accepting deserved praise graciously and denying underserved praise. It is recognizing that the patient knows what is best for himself.

Respect

Paying attention to others. It is listening attentively to a patient’s complaints or a colleague’s opinion.

Compassion

Loving kindness, a feeling for those who suffer. It is self-sacrifice voluntarily given for the benefit of another or given with no hope of return, gain recognition or payment but given because the other’s needs are greater. It is leaving the compforts of home to sit with a dying patient.

Prudence

Foresight, a habitual deliberateness, caution and circumspection in action. It is “to look before you leap” or to consider how different options may affect others before making a decision.

Courage

Doing what one sees as right without undue fear or standing up against what one sees as wrong even if it means standing up alone.

Pride

Inordinate self-esteem conceit. It is a behaviour of superiority over others.

Greed

Inordinate acquisitiveness often for wealth but also for power or position.