Medical Ethics: Professional Obligations and Records

MEDICAL ETHICS

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MEDICAL ETHICS

• Medical examinations, For:
• EmPLOYMENTs.

School and college enrollment.

The purpose is to determine whether the offered can perform the essential functions of the job. Studies etc To ensure that the employees are in good health To determine whether he or she qualifies for short term or long disability benefits 2

Medical Ethics

• A civil code of behaviour considered correct by members

Of the profession for the good of both the patient and profession.

Leads the public at large to expect of the doctor to have not only a high standard of medical ability and skill but also impeccable behaviour 3

Medical Ethics: Professional Obligations and Records

The need for patients trust in his doctor is the basis for ethical codes from many centuries ago as manifested in the traditions of all the major civilizations.

In recent times, national regional and world association doctors as well as other health care professionals have revised existing codes of ethics and formulated new ones to keep up with advances in medical knowledge, 4

Medical practice and research as well as changes in society.

All doctors subscribe to the spirit of caring and confidentiality that regulate the doctor-patient relationship and these values continue to be accepted by all those who practice the art of medicine.

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A new doctor entering the profession of medicine joins a fraternity dedicated to the service of humanity.

He will be expected to subordinate his personal interests to the welfare of his patients, and together with his fellow practitioners seek to raise the standard of health in the community where he practices.

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Medical Ethics: Professional Obligations and Records

He inherits traditions of professional behaviour on which he must base his own conduct, and which he must pass on unfarnished to his successors.

There are many core values running through the ethical beliefs of the various communities.

• Some of these values are extracted here for the guidance of our doctors.

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Medical Ethics: Professional Obligations and Records

The Physician should not recommend nor administer any harmful material and should not render help regardless of the financial ability, ethnic origin or religious belief of the patient.

The Physician should protect the patient’s confidentiality and adopt an appropriate manner of communication. He should examine a patient of the opposite sex in the presence of a third person whenever feasible.

He should not criticize another Physician in the presence of patients or health personnel.

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(He should adhere to these core values and seek guidance whenever in doubt)

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Ethical Obligation of Doctors to the Patient:

Consent for Medical Examination good communication between the doctor and patient is essential for consent.

Patient’s should be given adequate information in a way they can understand to enable them to make decisions about their medical care.

• It is a general rule that doctors should examine and treat patients only with consent.

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No consent is valid if obtained under the following conditions:

• When there is coercion or threat or force.

When the party giving consent is not aware of the full implications of consent.

When the patient is incompetent and therefore cannot give a valid consent; then consent should be obtained from the next of kin.

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Medical Records and Reports:

Good Medical Records are an indication of good practice. The doctor is encouraged to record all relevant details of his management of a patient.

Accurate, legible, comprehensive and contemporaneous notes are advised.

Doctors have obligations relating to the storage, access and use of health information available in the patients records.

• The patient is entitled to a written report of the care that has been given to him.

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Medical Ethics: Professional Obligations and Records

The doctor is obliged to provide him such a report speedily, without any unreasonable delay. The withholding of information of the care given to the patient is ethical.

The doctor can be held responsible for any breaches of confidentiality of medical records.

Medical information can be released to a third party only when written consent has been given by or on behalf of the patient.

Third parties who frequently seek information from a doctor are employees who request reports on the medical condition of absent or sick employees.

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POLICE FORM 3 T AND U

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Medico legal Examination

Insurance companies requiring particulars about the history of proposers for life insurance or deceased policy holders, medical bonds and other agencies seeking medical information about individuals associated with it as well as solicitors to consider and assess claims.

Medico legal examination for the purpose of workers compensation or other medico legal matters are not of traditional doctor-patient relationship.

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Medical Ethics: Professional Obligations and Records

These examinations frequently requested by third parties often a lawyer, pension scheme or insurance company, rather than the patientthemselves During examination on behalf of third parties, it is not the role of the doctor to jnitiate treatment EXCEPT for immediate emergency treatment or to refer the patient to other doctor If the examining dr believes such treatment or referral is necessary, he or she should make this recommendation to the party who reffered the patient, client, and or to his or her usualtreating dr, and make clear that there is no dr examinee treating relationship established 16