ethical principles

Ethical Principles

The medical profession is a one that is beclouded with a lot of ethical issues . This is because there are a lot of factors to consider in physician-patient relationship especially when giving clinical treatment . Due to these controversial ethical issues , some ethical principles have been established in to guide physicians as they carryout their day-to-day activities . These ethical principles are meant to create a pattern /direction for physician so that they can avoid the common issues raised in medical ethics

As a physician , I have come to identify that

you have to be sensitive and identify which of these principles you will use at specific situations . Generally , all these principles work together to guide the physician-patient relationship , however , some are more engaging in certain situations than others . These principles include beneficence nonmaleficence , truthfulness , dignity , fairness and equity and autonomy

Considering the nature of intensive care , it is very difficult to apply ethical principles and rigidly stick to them . This is because there are a lot of factors that are at work and there is a lot of pressure on the physician . However , one ethical principle I subscribe to in intensive care situations is beneficence . I always make sure that in whatever I do , I bare the interest of the patient in mind as supreme . This is because often times than not , these patients are at the mercy of the physician and they barely know the repercussions of some decisions that they make might have on them and at the same time they want to get out of that pain . Since it is my duty to make sure that the right treatment - the one that will be most beneficial to the patient , is given to the patient , I make sure I do all that is in my power to treat this patient

However , before I do this , I list the alternatives that are available and strongly discourage the other options . This is important considering the fact that the patient also has his /her rights too

Reference

Brody , Baruch A . 1988 . Life and Death Decision Making . New York : Oxford University Press...