Bioethics:VIRTUES and VICES

OBJECTIVE

Identify virtues of a health care provider in the context of the goals of medicine

Goals of Medicine

Promote health, prevent disease Alleviate pain and suffering Cure disease Improve/maintain function Prevent untimely death Education of the patient and family Do not harm

VIRTUES OF THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL

Acquired habits or dispositions to do what is morally right

Traits of character

FIDELITY

Faithfulness to trust and promise

HEALTHCARE

Patient Advocate

Keep patient’s best interest first in mind

Intend one’s good

(benevolence)

Avoid conflict of interest

RESEARCH

Research participant and public advocate

Respect dignity of man

- seek good

- avoid harm

- informed consent

Provide truth to the public

HONESTY

Truthfulness and integrity

TRUTHFULNESS

Good faith intent to convey the truth, both in words and conduct, to others, as best one knows it

Truth telling

-diagnosis, prognosis,

benefits, burdens, etc Research

- publishing accurate

findings

- acknowledge

contributors

- cite source of support

INTEGRITY

- being true to one self or wholeness

- congruence between belief’s, words and

actions

- making choices in line with one’s values

HUMILITY

Recognizing one’s capabilities and limitations

Accepting deserved praise and denying

undeserved praise

COMPASSION

Feeling for the loss/suffering of another

Self-sacrifice, given voluntarily for the benefit of another

Compassionate competent care is the essence of the healing profession

Listening to patient’s anxiety

Telling bad news kindly

Reducing burdens for research subjects

COURAGE

Doing what is right without undue fear

Resoluteness, heroism

PRUDENCE

Habitual deliberateness, caution

and circumspection in action

Foresight

JUSTICE

Constant will to give another his due

VICES

PRIDE

Inordinate self-esteem, conceit

Superiority over others

GREED

Inordinate acquisitiveness

Acknowledgement

MILAGROS F. NERI, MD,MA,MPHDepartment of Community & Family Medicine

Far Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation

Fairview, Quezon City, Philippines

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