Professionalism in Medicine
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Transcript of Professionalism in Medicine
PROFESSIONALISMIn MEDICINE
Prof. K.R. Sethuraman. MDJIPMER,
Pondicherry. India
Charaka Hippocrates
INTRODUCTION• Humanity is faced with
unprecedented threats to its health and well-being
• Changes in the health-care delivery systems frustrate ethical physicians today – These threaten the very nature of
medical professionalism
Quality of Healthcare
Would any of us accept such risks that we impose on our patients?
Priority: Patient Welfare
Priority:
Profit margin
Doctor & Patient Divided !
Declaration ofProfessional
Responsibility• Physicians’ historical commitment
to care for the sick prompted the response
• Recommitment to professionalism helps to regain public trust in medicine
• Voices from many countries call for a renewed sense of professionalism
Preamble
• Professionalism is the basis of medicine’s contract with society
• Vital to this contract is public trust in physicians
Preamble
• Trust depends on integrity of the profession and the individual
• It demands altruism - placing the interests of patients above those of the physician
Non Altruism !
Fundamental principle-1
Primacy of patients’ welfare is –
• altruism in serving the patients interest
• an extension of Beneficence
Fundamental principle-2
Patient autonomy & Respect
• Promote patients’ autonomy
• Be honest & empower them to make informed decisions
Doctor’s Loan Patients’ Debt
Source – ‘Trick or Treat’ - 2000 EQUIP India
Two thirds of Debt is due to ruinous health care expenditure in Indian villages.
“Medicare bankruptcy” is also reported in China & in the USA
Fundamental principle-3
•Social justice - eliminate discrimination in health care (by advocacy)
Access to Healthcare
Self Test - 1
Ethical sensitivity leads to professional commitment
Professional Commitments - a
Commitment to –
• Professional competence
• Scientific knowledge
• Maintaining trust by ethically managing conflicts of interest
Ethical Self Test 2
Would I mind if the transaction is known to my patients?
Professional Commitments - b
• Maintaining appropriate relationships
• Honesty with patients
• Patients’ confidentiality
• Professional responsibilities
Professional Commitments - c
Commitment to –
• Improving quality of care• Improving access to care• Just distribution of finite
resources
“For the triumph of evil it is only necessary for all the good persons to do nothing”
- Edmund Burke
Sum up – The Future of Professionalism
A strong & vibrant future depends on -
• Physicians who value and practice the basic tenets of professionalism
• Professional bodies that set and ensure quality standards for the practice of Medicine
To conclude -
• Let Us all strive to be Ethical Professionals – Professionals that India can be Justifiably Proud of…