Medical Ethics

“The practice of medicine is an art, not a trade; a calling, not a business; a calling in which your heart will be exercised equally with your head,” said William Osler (Osler, 1904). Medicine is not, as Francis Peabody said, “a trade to be learned, but a profession to be entered” (Peabody, 1927). A profession is characterized by a specialized body of knowledge that its members must teach and expand; by a code of ethics and a duty of service that, in medicine, puts patient care above self-interest; and by the privilege of self-regulation granted by society (Medicine., 2002). Physicians must individually and collectively fulfill the duties of the profession. The ethical foundations of the profession must remain in sharp focus despite outside influences on medicine, individuals. and the patient–physician relationship (Physicians., 2012; Snyder, 1998)."

American College of Physicians Ethics Manual. (2019). (A. C. o. Physicians, Ed. 7th Edition ed.). Annals of Internal Medicine. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M18-2160 

Medicine., A. F. A.-A. F. E. F. o. I. (2002). Medical professionalism in the new millennium: a physician charter. Ann Intern Med, 136. 

Osler, W. (1904). Aequanimitas: With Other Addresses to Medical Students, Nurses and Practitioners of Medicine. P. Blakiston's Son & Co. 

Peabody, F. (1927). The Care of the Patient. Jama, 88, 877-882. 

Physicians., G. J. S. L. H. a. P. P. C. o. t. A. C. o. (2012). Statement of principles on the role of governments in regulating the patient-physician relationship: a statement of principles of the American College of Physicians. . https://www.acponline.org/acp_policy/policies/patient_physician_relationship_2012.pdf 

Snyder, L. T., J. (1998). Obligations and opportunities: the role of clinical societies in the ethics of managed care. . J Am Geriatr Soc., 46, 378-380.