Conflict of Values in the Clinical Setting
One article in this month's issue boldly claims, "value neutrality is a myth." Physicians cannot leave their beliefs and values at the clinic door, and patients aren't expected to. So what happens when patients' and physicians' values conflict? How can physicians, who are human like the rest of us, overcome biases they may have about certain patient lifestyles or physical appearance? Should physicians use their position to influence patients' choices? Is it ethical for a physician or other health care professionals to refuse services on the basis of conscientious objection? These and other challenging questions are explored in the May 2006 issue.