Professionalism & Ethics

Lecture 11

Professionalism

the quality with which we practice the total scope of the profession

• technical skills, communication, leadership, educator, continuing education

• benefit patient and colleagues

Ethics

standards of conduct and moral judgement: medical ethics

• applying the above to judgments when practicing medicine

• combines standards set by polices/procedures and personal morals

Medical Ethic Issues

• genetic and prenatal testing, stem cells to treat disease, organ donation from relative

• end of life care (nutrition, resuscitation), abortions, birth control

• access to personal health information by yourself and insurance companies

beneficence

the obligation of health care providers to help people in need

nonmaleficence

the duty of health care providers to do no harm

fidelity

the quality or state of being faithful

veracity

devotion to the truth

justice

the concept of treating everyone in a fair manners

autonomy

the right of patients to make choices regarding their healthcare

ASCLS Code of Ethics

1. duty to the patient

   1. quality and integrity of results

   2. competence

   3. confidentiality

2. duty to colleagues and profession

   1. support profession

   2. other healthcare staff

3. duty to society

   1. laws and regulations