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Professional Behaviors of Physicians and Pursuing Social Justice
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To the Editor: In their Commentary, Dr Kirch and Mr Vernon1 noted that among the 4 pillars of medical ethics, justice stands apart. Considerations of justice are indeed underemphasized in the professional behaviors of physicians relative to the 3 other virtues of beneficence, nonmaleficence, and respect for autonomy. What the authors failed to note is the striking difference in focus, skills, and behaviors necessary to effectively practice justice as a clinician.
Beneficence, nonmaleficence, and a respect for autonomy are bedside virtues. They can be reliably and adequately addressed in the interaction between 2 people: a physician and patient. They are easily incorporated in the practice life of any physician in the course of patient care. Attending to justice requires a much broader focus. To even consider justice requires accounting not just for an individual, but for the relationship of that person to the community and to society as a whole. . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Mark Earnest, MD, PhD
mark.earnest@ucdenver.edu
Department of Medicine
Shale Wong, MD, MPH;
Steve Federico, MD
University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine
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