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A Doctor’s Code of Ethics By: Vanessa White University of Phoenix A Doctor’s Code of Ethics A doctor’s code of ethics is to enrich the wellbeing of the community and town by helping taking care of patients during visits while making progress in a patient’s treatment (Medical Ethics, 2010). These guidelines are put in place for the doctors so that they can attend to any challenges that might arise both ethically and expertly (Medical Ethics, 2010). Medical ethics are guidelines of a physician’s duty in medical world (World Book, 2010).
The Code of Ethics are a form of good medical practices that take ethical situations into consideration with a show of consideration for the patient, conflicting situations and other forms of ethical practices. Another important factor to remember about the code of ethics is that these are essential principles that need to start and end with what is in the best interest of the patient (World Book, 2010). A doctor’s code of ethics needs to consist of three main considerations. They are as follows; the reliability that is owed to the patient, the accountability to the community and a duty to the medical profession (World Book, 2010).
In this paper we will look at the Code of Ethic goals for doctors. Next we will look at the ethical principles of the physicians. Next we will look at the grievance procedures that a doctor should follow when communicating with families. We will then look at my opinion of the feasibility of enforcing either part of the entire code of ethics. Finally we will look at recommendations for strengthening any potential weak areas of the code of ethics for doctors. When a doctor reviews the code of ethics they need to set goals to help them be successful.
The goals that a doctor sets need to involve the patient, the community and their medical career. The goals need to support the essential principles of the physician’s code and their career field. The first goal that needs to be set is that physicians need to hold on to the promise of the maximum values of excellent care (Physicians Practice, 2010). The second goal that should be set is that the physician needs to be there for their patients with the greatest training available (Physicians Practice, 2010).
The next goal that needs to be set is that physicians need to set and uphold the maximum values of individual and professional demeanor while complying with policy and rules (Physician Practice, 2010). The next goal that the physicians need to set that there needs to be a patient-doctor relationship (Physician Practice, 2010). This is a relationship that needs to be developed and based on trust, admiration, and teamwork (Physician Practice, 2010). Another goal that needs to be set is that all patient information needs to be kept confidential and confined (Physician Practice, 2010).
The only way information should be released is if the patient gives written consent or gives direct consent verbally to the office staff or the doctor. A doctor needs to have ethical principles when practicing medicine. A doctor generally needs to have ethical principles along with proper conduct in order to be successful. The essential principles of guidelines are a foundation of consults and practices (World Book, 2010). Upon my reading, ethical principles need to consist of six points in order for a doctor to be successful.
These six points are as follows; the first ethical principle is that a doctor needs to put the needs of the patient first regardless of the situation (Ethical Principles, 2001). The second ethical principle is that a patient should always be care for with respect, truthfulness, capability and self-respect (Ethical Principles, 2001). All patients like to be treated with care and as a peer. The third ethical principle is that a doctor should keep the privacy of the patient. A doctor keeping items discussed with the patient is not only an ethic principle but a law (Ethical Principles, 2001).
The fourth ethical principle is that a doctor needs to be able to preserve experience by ongoing to learning and studying new information, ideas and technologies for their particular field that will potentially help patients while continuing to care for current patients (Ethical Principles, 2001). The fifth ethical principle is that a patient should pat the doctor any co-pays needed for the services provided during the visit (World Book, 2010). The sixth ethical principle is that doctors should help other doctors in fulfilling their ethical principles and code of ethics (Ethical
Principles, 2001). By helping each other in the medical field within the community stays strong with physicians that are helpful and making business and some personal relationships among each other. A patient or their family can file a grievance. A grievance is an official way that an individual can convey their disappointment with the health care obtained (Grievance, 2010). A grievance is an important issue and should not be taken without due consideration by all parties involved (Grievance, 2010).
A grievance needs to include a review of the problems and include very precise information, such as names, the problem, and the date (Grievance, 2010). Included needs to be how one would prefer to have the issue resolved and make sure to include as much documentation as possible (World Book, 2010). Once a grievance has been filed and is received by the doctor, the staff will collect and review all medical data. They will then make a preliminary conclusion by either allowing or rejecting the claim (Grievance, 2010).
The decision need to be made within 14 days from receiving the grievance form (Grievance, 2010). If the information on the grievance is incomplete then the grievance then just becomes a complaint (Grievance, 2010). If at any time the grievance is concluded to be true, then the proper department will begin counteractive action, not later than the seven days of the choice being made (Grievance, 2010). When I look through the material and read about the Doctor’s Code of Ethics, I believe that the entire code of ethics needs to be enforced.
Doctors are individuals that help heal and help keep the community and their patients healthy. These are individuals that the patients and the community confide in and look to for medical advice when needing additional help. The doctor’s code of ethics are guidelines that help protect the doctor and the patient while at the same time striving to improve the patient care and the health care system. The code of ethics is feasible to enforce because these are basic and realistic principles and goals that need to be upheld for the doctor and the patient.
I believe that when these ethics are practiced then the doctor is able to taken more seriously while building a good reputation within the community and among patients. Upon reading the doctor’s code of ethics, I do have some recommendations for strengthening potential weak areas. My first recommendation is the patient-doctor relationships need to be strengthened. I believe that a doctor should spend more than ten minutes talking to their patients and giving a thorough examination while going over their recent medical history.
This makes the patient feel better in knowing that their physician is being thorough and shows that they are concerned with their patients well ???being and their health. My second recommendation is that physicians need to work on communication with the patient and their family. What I mean when I say this is medical care and procedures need to be better explained to where the patient can understand what type of care they are receiving or going to receive. Patients do not like to ask many questions for the fear of looking incompetent, so I believe when things are explained better the communication can flow easier between both parties.
The third recommendation I would recommend is improving the bed side manner. I believe this falls under the category of putting the patient first regardless of the circumstances concerning the patient. Doctors do not spend enough time with patients when in the hospital or for follow-up care. They seem to always be in a hurry and as a result it can shake up a patient. To fix this I suggest just talking a few minutes and talking to the patient and addressing their concerns. These are my recommendations that I am suggesting to improve the Doctor’s Code of Ethics.
The doctor’s code of ethics is important because these are a specific set of guidelines that physicians must include into their daily practices when helping patients and when working in the health care environment. These principles and goals help protect the doctor and the patient from any possible problems from occurring between the patient and the doctor. In this paper we looked at the doctor’s code of ethics and how they affect both the patient and the doctor. We then looked at the goals of the physician and the code of ethics.
Then we looked at the ethical problems and the grievance procedures. We then looked at my opinion as to the feasibility of enforcing the code of ethics as a whole or just part of the code. Finally, we looked at my recommendations for potential ways of strengthening the doctor’s code of ethics. I hope you were able to find this information helpful and informative. References Ethical Principles. U. A. (2001). Retrieved on July 10, 2010, from www. priory. com Medical Ethics. U. A. (2010). Retrieved on July 10, 2010, from www. ama-assn. org Physicians Practice. U. A. (2010).
Retrieved on July 10, 2010, from www. physicanspractice. com World Book Encyclopedia. U. A. (2010). Retrieved on July 10, 2010, from www. worldbookencyclopedia. com CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY: I??certify that??the attached??paper is my original work and has not previously been submitted by me or anyone else for any class. I further declare I have cited all sources from which I used??language, ideas, and information,??whether quoted??verbatim or paraphrased, and that any assistance of any kind, which I received while producing this paper, has been acknowledged in the References section.
I have obtained written permission from the copyright holder for any trademarked material, logos, or images from the Internet or other sources. I further agree that my name typed??on the line below is intended to have, and shall have, the same validity as my handwritten signature. Student’s??signature (name typed here is equivalent to a signature): ??_________ _______Vanessa White__________ ___