Strengthening the Social Contract

Strengthening the Social Contract

Reconnecting to Essential Ideals

Hateful and bigoted patients, on the other hand, severely test a physician's objectivity and sense of justice.

Physicians must be able to decide when to accept a patient's decision in the event that the decision seems irrational or does not seem to be in the patient's best interest.

An ethical case explores whether a physician who wants to terminate his professional relationship with a noncompliant hemodialysis patient has an obligation to treat the patient if the patient has a disability.

The Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs reports how the AMA's Code of Medical Ethics has evolved over the years to provide two opinions that address which patients physicians have the right to choose to serve and when physicians can terminate a therapeutic relationship.

Medical trivia about the ethical issues surrounding patient-requested amputations.

A Peace Corps physician working in Africa describes in his latest online journal entry that one of the most difficult challenges of his job is maintaining physician confidentiality when treating volunteers who knowingly engage in behaviors that put other people's health at risk.

Physicians should approach potentially difficult patients in the emergency department with calm reassurances, in the presence of aides or security to assist the physician, and determine whether emergency or urgent medical care is needed.