Professional Behaviors of Physicians and Pursuing Social Justice
- Mark Earnest, MD, PhD mark.earnest@ucdenver.eduDepartment of Medicine;
- Shale Wong, MD, MPH;
- Steve Federico, MDUniversity of Colorado Denver School of Medicine
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
- KEYWORDS:
- AMERICAN BOARD OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
- DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE
- EDUCATION, MEDICAL
- ETHICS, MEDICAL
- HEALTH CARE SYSTEM REFORM
- HEALTH POLICY
- HEALTH SERVICES ACCESSIBILITY
- HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES
- INTERNAL MEDICINE
- PHYSICIANS
- PROFESSIONAL ROLE
- SOCIAL JUSTICE
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 …
