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Medical Ethics

Code of Ethics: Professionalism

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“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 

ABIM Foundation; ACP-ASIM Foundation; European Federation of Internal Medicine. Medical professionalism in the new millennium: a physician charter. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136(3):243-246. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-136-3-200202050-00012

Osler, W. (1904). Aequanimitas: With Other Addresses to Medical Students, Nurses and Practitioners of Medicine.

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.medchi.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ytwgFhaDCEQ%3D&portalid=18

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. 

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  • Code of ethics for mediums and trance channelersThis link opens in a new window The research objective of this study was three-fold: identify ethical standards currently used by adult, English-speaking mediums/channelers; based on emergent categories, establish a draft framework for ethical standards for the field of mediumship/channeling; and obtain consensus approval of an aspirational code of ethics for mediums/channelers. The first of two surveys engaged 119 mediums/channelers, 74 % of whom lived in the United States. Roughly two-thirds (66 %) of survey participants... Apr 5, 2025
  • Towards a Sociology of Healthcare RobotsThis link opens in a new window We propose a sociological approach to healthcare robots that emphasises the heterogeneous ethics of mutual labour and the complex definitions of care that emerge through robot design/deployment. This argument is the product of a narrative literature review that examined assistive robots deployed in care settings. We found that although the deployment of healthcare robots has redefined the concept of care, as featured in geography, legal studies, and philosophy, it rarely appears in sociological... Apr 5, 2025
  • Exploring the foundations and influences of nurses'moral courage: a scoping reviewThis link opens in a new window CONCLUSION: In conclusion, understanding the diverse factors shaping moral courage in nursing is vital for navigating ethical challenges and improving patient care quality. Tailored educational strategies are essential to foster moral courage among nursing professionals globally, emphasizing the need for ongoing research and interventions to enhance ethical practice and patient outcomes. Apr 4, 2025
  • End of life care preferences in the Arab population in Israel- bridging the gap between unfounded assumptions and autonomous wishesThis link opens in a new window CONCLUSIONS: Bridging the gap between assumptions and actual preferences requires culturally sensitive communication, increased awareness of advance care planning, and structured family discussions. These measures will ensure that EOL care respects both individual autonomy and cultural values, fostering a more inclusive and patient-centered healthcare approach. Apr 4, 2025
  • Artificial Intelligence in Health Care: A Rallying Cry for Critical Clinical Research and Ethical ThinkingThis link opens in a new window Artificial intelligence (AI) will impact a large proportion of jobs in the short to medium term, especially in the developed countries. The consequences will be felt across many sectors including health care, a critical sector for implementation of AI tools because glitches in algorithms or biases in training datasets may lead to suboptimal treatment that may negatively affect the health of an individual. The stakes are obviously higher in case of potentially life-threatening diseases such as... Apr 4, 2025
  • The ethics of sustainability in dentistryThis link opens in a new window No abstract Apr 4, 2025
  • A citizen-centred approach to public engagement on the ethical, legal and societal issues of health technologiesThis link opens in a new window Public engagement in health technologies continuously expands thanks to increased recognition and financial support. Yet, the lack of a shared definition and standards enables practitioners to conduct initiatives in ways that prioritise their self-interests over the empowerment of citizens. Experts and policymakers generally design engagement initiatives following rigid protocols to fit their agenda, limiting the influence of citizens upstream. In reaction to this and as an attempt to... Apr 4, 2025
  • How adaptive leadership can enhance healthcare ethicsThis link opens in a new window Ethical challenges persist throughout healthcare and over the last 40 years and more organizations have hired ethicists or teams of ethicists to help identify and address them. Strategies and tools used by healthcare ethicists have evolved over this time. Most commonly capacity-building (education) and ethical frameworks are used to support ethical decision-making within organizations. In this article, we argue that traditional, technical tools (like frameworks and education) are insufficient... Apr 4, 2025
  • Bioengineering ethics for the age of microphysiological systemsThis link opens in a new window The development of microphysiological systems (MPS) is pushing ethical standards in biomedical research to a breaking point. This article argues that only a perspective drawing from engineering ethics will be able to address the new challenges raised by organoids and organs-on-chips. Extending progressively the scope of moral questioning, we discuss successively the following areas: i) individual consent: when cell lines are generated and human biomaterial is circulated and incorporated into... Apr 4, 2025
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