Essay on “Ethics in Doctor’s Profession” Complete Essay for Class 9, Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Ethics in Doctor’s Profession

Medical ethics, a branch of ethics, deals with moral decisions in various aspects of medicine. The Hippocratic Oath is the most enduring tradition in medicine that has been the guiding ethical code for physicians since ancient Greece, and has eventually become the basis of all medical ethics. In its most compelling portions, it emphasizes the profundity of the medical agreement, the patient dignity, the confidentiality of the transaction, and the physician’s responsibility to guard against abuse or corruption of his or her knowledge and art. It also exhorts the physicians to honour the rules of their profession and expose those who do not follow the high standards of conduct. In the recent past, however, there has been a sharp decline in the ethical conduct of the medical practitioners all over the world. The ‘dollar’ is adored deity and the profession has been both privatized and commercialized. Materialistic influence has also led to the general belief that gratification of senses is the only way of enjoyment. This has produced highly selfish mentality and resultant exploitation of the patients without spiritual concept of life. The effect of this trend is seen in India also. In India, many factors are responsible for the deterioration of morality in the medical practice. A large initial investment is required to set up a clinic, a hospital or a medical institute; and it is thought appropriate to charge heavy fees from the patients as a means of recovering the cost.

Nowadays there is increased awareness in the patient community about their legal rights. Thus doctors have a fear of getting charged, by consumer or other courts, for criminal negligence in treating the patients. Money required to plead the case may be substantial and hence the hospital charges are high.

The patient approaches a doctor with mixed feeling of faith and fear, of hope and hostility. This inevitably leads to distorted doctor-patient relationship with high chances of exploitation. Many doctors do not (or cannot) offer the best line of treatment to the patients: Firstly because, some are ill trained. They them-selves are not fully aware of recent advances in the treatment and management of the disease. Secondly, many doctors do not have standard treatment facilities in their own clinics or hospitals. Instead of referring the patients to an institute where such facilities are available, the treating physicians do not inform about such facilities for fear of ‘losing the patients’ It is indeed difficult to understand why doctors today do not follow simple ethical practices. The doctors are educated and privileged class of people. They have enough prestige and are respected everywhere. Why can they not feel the suffering of patients? Even at the sad plight of the suffering humanity they don’t desist from exploiting the poor. Some blame the prevalent system of medical education, while others try to put the responsibility on patients themselves. Most of the doctors, as well as literate class of people, seem not to bother about corruption in medical field any more. This is a grave situation. This ‘modern’ individualistic attitude and total lack of concern for the need of value-system in the life does not augur well for the future of medical scene in India. The declining moral trend indicates unhealthy inter-human relationship. Appeal for political intervention, seeking help from Judiciary, or trying to rectify the situation through Medical Associations and Councils have proved to be of no avail.

Despite honest attempts by the government, professional bodies, and non-governmental organizations, the decline in morality is not under check. In such a situation more radical and original approach is required. Such an approach that appeals to the spirit of humanity and which is universal in its extent is found in Vedanta as elaborated by Swami Vivekananda. For him all secular aspects, individual or social, were ‘spiritual’, and hence equally important. Everyone (including the physician) has a social obligation to consider. At the expense of the patients and the society he is able to complete his education. It is his duty to repay that ‘loan’ as selfless service to the humanity. ‘Serve with the knowledge that in serving other person we serve no other but God Himself’, he maintained.