Altruism In Healthcare

249 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Ethics In Medical Profession

The defining characteristic of altruism is often described as self-sacrifice; to behave altruistically, an individual subordinates his or her interest in order to act for others’ benefit. I believe this definition of altruism differs in the context of medicine. Healthcare providers fulfill a special role within our society: physicians, in particular, are committed by a professional and ethical code to the deliver the highest quality of care, and to be accountable for the wellbeing of the patients and communities they serve. The stresses of professional medical practice can exact a great toll on healthcare providers. As physicians, being prepared to renounce self-interest could likely involve the danger ignoring personal health and wellbeing,

Show More
Related

  • Case Study Of Patrick Dismuke

    1388 Words  | 3 Pages

    I often ask myself, “Can I handle it?” I learned from other doctors that in order to provide the best care, a physician must be able to detach himself or herself from the patient; they say it would be better for both the doctor and the patient. But, with that kind of thinking, the doctor is not fully giving himself to the patient. So, is it right to not fully give oneself to care for the patient? Learning from Patrick Dismuke and those who loved him, it seemed that the hospital was able to care for him best by loving him. Nurse Kay, Patrick’s favorite nurse, not only answered his late night calls, but enjoyed talking with him. This always calmed Patrick down before and/or after surgery. Dr. Aceves was always optimistic and hopeful for the future of Patrick’s health, never giving up on him by pushing for surgery. He did this because he knew Patrick all 16 years and was emotionally attached to the boy, even though Patrick did not feel the same way. Thus, though I can understand that a physician must put a wall between himself or herself and the patient, there should still be a strong connection in which they would do anything for the patient’s comfort and

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Lisa Belkin's First Do No Harm

    1364 Words  | 3 Pages

    For anyone who has ever worked in healthcare, or simply for someone who has watched a popular hit television show such as Grey’s Anatomy, General Hospital, House or ER know that there can be times when a doctor or health care provider is placed in extremely difficult situations. Often times, those situations are something that we watch from the sidelines and hope for the best in the patient’s interest. However, what happens when you place yourself inside the doctors, nurses, or any other of the medical provider’s shoes? What if you were placed in charge of a patient who had an ethically challenging situation? What you would you do then? That is precisely what Lisa Belkin accomplishes in her book “First Do No Harm”. Belkin takes the reader on

    Read More

  • Essay On The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks

    1341 Words  | 3 Pages

    When we see patients, we must remember that we are not simply treating a disease. We are caring for people with lives, hobbies, jobs, families, and friends, who are likely in a very vulnerable position. We must ensure that we use the status of physicians to benefit patients first and foremost, and do what we promised to when we entered the profession: provide care and improve quality of life, and hopefully leave the world a little better than it was

    Read More

  • Examples Of Effective Altruism

    110 Words  | 1 Pages

    Effective Altruism is a combination of philosophy and social movement that involved moral values to improving the global, for example, poverty, death of disease and starvation. The values of effective altruism consist open-mindedness, critical thinking, and global empathy. Which means, doing things that bring largest positive influence, applying evidence and aim to identify the effective ways, and valued all lives. In Singer’s speech, he said that "Effective Altruism is combined with head and heart. Define how necessary it is and doing in a right direction. Singers also gave examples of a two-year-old girl who has hit by two truck and preventable disease--Malaria." (TED, 2013) Like, “the ripple effect” (TED,

    Read More

  • Shifting Passions: From Livestock to Human Medicine

    842 Words  | 2 Pages

    Doctors should possess the skills necessary to assess what the patient actually needs contrary to what he/she believes they require. An illness obviously impacts one’s life regardless of how minuscule. A doctor plays a vital role in both the physical condition and the, often over-looked, emotional well-being of his/her patients. I firmly believe that through my experiences in two separate, but fairly similar branches of medicine I have developed the ability to care for those in a compassionate yet professional manner along with the ability comprehend the information necessary that being a health care provider

    Read More

  • Altruism In Medical Research

    260 Words  | 1 Pages

    An altruistic predisposition is one of the core faculties that inform ethical medical practice. Physicians are held in positions of trust, and are viewed as being socially and ethically contracted to act selflessly in service to persons under their care. Altruism in medicine therefore represents an ideal that is necessary in preserving the fabric of trust between physicians and their patients, as well as their perception of physicians as healers who place their health before any individual self-interest. This social contract is essential to the effective functioning of medicine. An erosion of this trust would represent a degradation of physicians’ ability to act as effective intermediaries between medical science and health. The origin of my

    Read More

  • Altruism

    1241 Words  | 3 Pages

    Birds chirping and children playing on every street corner, giggling and jumping rope. Every street is complete with several nice houses and big yards with white fences to accompany them. Every house has a happy family to live in it, a few children who joyfully skip home from school every day, a father and mother who come home after work each day, all without a care in the world. Each family is living a comfortable life able to afford most things and able to easily and quickly save for things not quite in their reach. There are no worries about how much money there will be to buy groceries after the bills are paid or what the family will have to give up to be able to keep a certain comfort that they currently enjoy. Each family in this town is living a picture perfect life that they would not trade for the world.

    Read More

  • Why I Want To Be A Physician Assistant Essay

    808 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many people rush through their daily life without contemplating their actions, thereby missing vast opportunities for achievement. They waste valuable time engaging in frivolous matters instead of putting their energies towards more productive and meaningful purposes. In the words of the Dalai Lama: “Life is not about acquiring money and other facilities; it is about dedicating your life to helping others as much as you can.” The immeasurable value of helping others has been engrained in me since childhood. As a result of my own difficult family circumstances, I have become more sensitive, kind and mindful towards others and their own situations. I have developed a passion for helping others, which, in combination with a proclivity towards medicine has lead to my descion to become a Physician Assistant. I want to live a life where I can provide healthcare and aid to anyone who needs.

    Read More

  • Applied Ethics: On The Nature Of Ethics In The Professional World

    1872 Words  | 4 Pages

    As I near the end of this paper, the image of the truly ethical health care professional becomes more lucid. The truly ethical health care professional is the virtuoso; well-versed in the various legal and ethical aspects of the profession. This individual possesses a remarkable sense of self-awareness and is able to respond to each ethical dilemma with aplomb. This model is a difficult standard to achieve and involves a lifetime’s worth of observation, professional training, re-training, and personal introspection. In essence, the paradigm of the truly ethical health care professional returns me to where I first began: with the recognition that the health care profession is as ethically-nuanced as it is rewarding.

    Read More

  • Professionalism In The Radiological Field Research Paper

    984 Words  | 2 Pages

    Effective interactions between radiologic personnel and patients can make the patient’s visit pleasant and meaningful (Adler & Carlton, 2012). To interact effectively with patients, understanding the patients’ needs and concerns are important. Fields et al. (2011) illustrate that empathy is an important component of professionalism, and is mutually beneficial between medical staff members and patients across all health professions. Sim and Radloff (2009) assert that altruism is an important attribution of professionalism, and that it is the responsibility of the healthcare professional to place patient interest and well-being over monetary gain. Therefore, radiologic professionals acting altruistic and emphatic with patients leads to better patient compliance and fulfillment. As with most medical professionals, radiologic professionals have a great responsibility when interacting with patients. Patients tend to view medical staff as powerful and omniscient (Adler & Carlton, 2012). According to Yielder and Davis (2009), this dominance derives from the extraordinary knowledge, techniques, and skills of the medical staff. As a result, patients rely on professional’s competence to provide high quality healthcare. Professionalism in radiology involves the medical personnel breaking down dominance barriers and working together with patients to

    Read More

  • Psychological and Ethical Egoism

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    For someone who believes in psychological egoism, i t is difficult to find an action that would be acknowledged as purely altruistic. In practice, altruism, is the performance of duties to others with no view to any sort of personal...

    Read More

  • Summary: Heart Of Altruism

    646 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the foremost issues with that of humanity is the inception of altruism- of why one would do something for someone else that in the process would encroach repercussions to one’s own wellbeing. Is human nature truly, fundamentally rooted in selfishness; or perhaps there is more to people than most expect? Nowadays in our increasingly interconnected world, people tend to focus on the ruthless competition humans entail as population increases, but most do not recognize that humans could not survive without the aid of charity from others. I feel that out of any aspect of human nature, it’s the altruistic values that assist people in their endeavors as they strive to reach into the dark haze of the unknown that is the future, and I myself focus on these values heavily.

    Read More

  • Altruism Argumentative Paper

    805 Words  | 2 Pages

    “When a society starts depending on people overseas to hand over their hard earned money their society does not grow. “

    Read More

  • What Is Professionalism In The Workplace Essay

    1615 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the context of being a student of physical therapy, altruism is an important value that has enabled me to influence others through engaging them, showing concern and affection. Physical therapists are usually trusted by their clients with the hope that they will help them recover and resume their normal lives. Physical therapists are then faced with situations that require them to offer their services notwithstanding the rewards that their efforts will attract. Being able to empathize with patients is vital as it determines the quality of service and attention a physical therapist will give his or her patients. For the time I have been an undergraduate student of physical therapy, I have come to terms with the fact that selflessness when dealing with patients is a professional behavior that develops over time. I continue to nurture the virtue of being mindful towards students, patients, and faculty members while training to be a physical therapist as this portrays the willingness to ensure other people’s comfort and well-being in my further

    Read More

  • Ethics of Reciprocity: My Moral Compass

    1073 Words  | 3 Pages

    General ethical theories have provided guidance for moral decision making for a few years now. Major theories have been created which emphasize different rules or principles to follow when moral difficulties arise, specifically in the medical context. These major ethical theories like Utilitarianism, Deontology, Natural Law of Ethics, Care Ethics, Virtue Ethics, and the Ethics of Reciprocity, to name a few, stand for different principles which overall formulates the major differences between these theories. However, after deliberating over the man principles and rules of each theory, the ethical theory which resonated most with my own decision making process, is the Ethics of Reciprocity.

    Read More

More about Altruism In Healthcare

Open Document