2 Chapter 2 Patient Rights, Medical Principles, and Patient Care

The medical profession has long adhered to a set of ethical principles primarily designed to benefit the patient. As part of this profession, a physician must prioritize their responsibility to patients above all else, while also considering their obligations to society, other healthcare professionals, and themselves. The following Principles, adopted by the American Medical Association, are not laws but serve as standards of conduct that outline the core elements of honorable behavior for physicians.

Principles to be followed by physicians and other healthcare professions includes the following:

I. A physician shall be committed to providing competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and patient rights.

II. A physician shall uphold professional standards, be honest in all professional interactions, and take steps to report other physicians who are deficient in character or competence, or who engage in fraud or deception, to the appropriate authorities.

III. A physician shall respect the law and work to change those laws that are detrimental to the best interests of patients.

IV. A physician shall respect the rights of patients, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals, and shall protect patient confidentiality and privacy, in accordance with the law.

V. A physician shall continuously seek to improve their knowledge, apply and advance scientific understanding, maintain a commitment to medical education, share relevant information with patients, colleagues, and the public, consult when necessary, and collaborate with other health professionals when appropriate.

VI. A physician shall have the autonomy to choose whom to serve, whom to work with, and the setting in which to provide care, except in emergencies.

VII. A physician shall recognize a duty to participate in efforts that contribute to the improvement of the community and the advancement of public health.

VIII. A physician shall prioritize their responsibility to the patient above all other concerns when providing care.

IX. A physician shall support equitable access to medical care for all individuals.

Patient Care and Healthcare Practices

Ethics and morals play a critical role in the health professions because they directly influence the quality of patient care, the trust between patients and healthcare providers, and the integrity of the healthcare system as a whole. Here’s why ethics and morals are so important in healthcare:

1. Patient Trust and Relationship:

• Trust: Ethics and morals form the foundation of the relationship between healthcare professionals and their patients. Patients trust that their doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers will act in their best interests, respect their rights, and provide compassionate care. If this trust is broken due to unethical behavior or moral violations, it can erode patient confidence and harm the doctor-patient relationship.
• Example: A patient who feels that their healthcare provider is honest and respects their autonomy (the right to make decisions about their own care) is more likely to follow treatment recommendations and maintain a positive relationship with their provider.

2. Respecting Patient Rights:

• Autonomy and Consent: Ethical principles such as autonomy ensure that patients have the right to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Respecting a patient’s right to autonomy and providing informed consent ensures that individuals are empowered to make choices about their treatment based on their values, preferences, and beliefs.
• Example: Informed consent is critical before performing any procedure, as it guarantees that patients understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives, allowing them to make decisions that align with their personal values.

3. Patient Protection and Safety:

• Beneficence and Nonmaleficence: Healthcare providers are morally and ethically obligated to act in the best interest of patients (beneficence) and avoid causing harm (nonmaleficence). This ensures that medical interventions, whether preventive or therapeutic, are done with the intention of improving the patient’s health and minimizing risks.
• Example: A doctor prescribing the right medication to treat an illness while ensuring that the benefits outweigh the risks, and avoiding unnecessary procedures that could harm the patient.

4. Confidentiality and Privacy:

• Confidentiality: Ethics in healthcare requires that patient information is kept confidential and only shared with authorized individuals. This protects patients’ privacy and ensures that sensitive medical information is not disclosed inappropriately, fostering trust in healthcare systems.
• Example: A nurse must ensure that a patient’s medical records are not disclosed to unauthorized persons, protecting the patient’s privacy and upholding ethical standards.

5. Moral Decision-Making in Complex Situations:

• Healthcare professionals often face difficult ethical dilemmas, such as when deciding on treatment plans for terminally ill patients, end-of-life care, or balancing limited resources. Ethical frameworks help guide professionals in making decisions that prioritize the well-being of patients while considering legal, cultural, and moral aspects.
• Example: In situations where resources are limited, like in a crisis or pandemic, healthcare providers may have to make tough decisions about how to allocate care, ensuring fairness and justice in their choices.

6. Accountability and Professional Integrity:

• Ethical Accountability: Professionals in healthcare are held to high ethical standards that promote accountability and ensure that their actions are in line with the public’s trust in the profession. This includes being honest, transparent, and responsible for their actions.
• Example: A doctor who makes a mistake in diagnosis or treatment must ethically acknowledge the error and work to correct it, ensuring the patient is informed and receives proper care.

7. Promotion of Fairness and Justice:

• Equitable Care: Ethics ensures that all patients, regardless of background, race, religion, or socioeconomic status, receive fair and equal treatment. Healthcare systems that operate with fairness are more likely to foster social justice and ensure that vulnerable populations receive the care they need.
• Example: A healthcare provider offering the same high standard of care to both rich and poor patients, ensuring that no one is discriminated against based on their financial situation.

8. Support for Ethical Healthcare Practices:

• Ethics guide healthcare professionals in following established best practices, whether in medical procedures, patient care, or research. This ensures that healthcare is conducted in a way that aligns with societal values and maintains the integrity of the profession.
• Example: Research ethics guide scientists in ensuring that medical trials are conducted with informed consent, patient safety, and transparency, maintaining the credibility of scientific inquiry.

Ethics and morals are essential in the health professions because they ensure that healthcare providers deliver care that is respectful, just, and in the best interest of patients. These principles foster trust, protect patients’ rights, guide professionals in difficult situations, and ensure fairness and accountability in the healthcare system. Without a strong ethical and moral foundation, the quality of patient care could decline, and the trust necessary for effective healthcare would be jeopardized. The following link is to a chapter in KL Rich’s book, Chapter 1 published by Jones and Bartlett Learning.  https://samples.jbpub.com/9781449649005/22183_ch01_pass3.pdf