Physicians Should Follow Professional Standards, Editorial States

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 03 Jan 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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A recent survey that "sought to measure attitudes toward a 'charter on professionalism' that has been embraced by many medical organizations" raises "doubts about physicians' willingness to meet their medical and societal responsibilities," a New York Times editorial states. Researchers "found a disturbing reluctance among doctors to report incompetent colleagues or serious mistakes by their peers," and "[a]lthough an overwhelming majority of some 1,600 doctors acknowledged that they should make such reports to hospitals, clinics or other relevant authorities, they often flinched when the occasion arose," according to the Times.

In addition, "Almost half of those who had direct knowledge of impaired or incompetent colleagues, or who knew of significant medical errors, had failed to report them at least once over the last three years," the editorial states. The editorial continues, "In addition to raising questions about misplaced loyalties, several findings suggest that doctors could become an impediment to much-needed efforts to rein in health care costs." According to the Times, "To their credit, fewer than 1% of the doctors said they had lied to a patient in the last three years, and three-quarters reported delivering free care to patients who couldn't pay."

The editorial continues, "The charter is a valuable attempt to define a doctor's obligations -- not only to individual patients but also to the health care system as a whole." The Times concludes, "It is comforting that a vast majority of physicians seem to accept the standards. Now they need to start adhering to them" (New York Times, 12/24/07).

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