The Decline in the Patient - Physician Relationship Over the span of half a century, the medical profession has witnessed a catastrophic shift in the patient-physician relationship. As the manufacturing of new pharmaceuticals and the number of patients under a physician’s care continue to rise, doctor’s are finding it difficult to employ the time-honored principles listed within the Hippocratic Oath. This oath, written in 430 BC by the Greek Physician, Hippocrates, was the first document to state the responsibilities of a physician to his patient (vadscorner, pg 2). Hippocrates believed that it was the physician’s duty, as a healer, to treat the patient infected with the disease to the best of his ability, and not to treat the disease (Hippocrates, pg 1 ). He believed that the patient was, above all, the most important aspect involved in the healing process. With the rise in the number of patients under a physician’s care and the stringent rules by which each doctor must abide, many doctor’s are finding that they are unable to devote ample time to become acquainted with their patients (spiralnotebook, pg 1). Furthermore, as newly acquired information regarding illnesses becomes available on the internet, patients are seeking the advice of multiple physicians (Changing, pg 3). These differences between patients and their physicians, as well as numerous others, have caused rifts in the patient-doctor relationship. Half a century ago, a doctor’s patients relied solely on their doctor for information and advice regarding how to treat a specific disease. This was due primarily to the fact that a doctor’s patients didn’t see their doctor on a regular basis. Today, however, people see their doctors on a more frequent basis. As th... ... middle of paper ... ...t-physician relations (Improving, pg 1). Works Cited Changing With The Times. http://www.health.pitt.edu/academic/MM2001/listening.htm 26 Nov. 2004 Dr. David KL Quek. Is the Hippocratic Tradition Still Relevant in Today’s Medical Practice. http://www.vadscorner.com/editorial 10199.html 27 Nov. 2004 Improving Doctor-Patient Relations. http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/100903MedCom.htm 26 Nov. 2004 Kidder, Tracy. Mountains Beyond Mountains . New York : Random House Trade, 2003 Seaman, Barbara. Charting the doctor-patient relationship. http://www.spiralnotebook.org/chartingthedoctorpatientrelationship/ 27 Nov. 2004 Schopick, Julia. Hippocrates was right: Treat people, not their disease. 26 June 2000. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2000/06/26/hlca0626.htm 23 Nov. 2004 Patch Adams. Dir. Tom Shadyak. 1998. Videocassette. Universal Studios, 1998
Truth in medicine is a big discussion among many medical professionals about how doctors handle the truth. Truth to a patient can be presented in many ways and different doctors have different ways of handling it. Many often believe that patient’s being fully aware of their health; such as a bad diagnosis, could lead to depression compared to not knowing the diagnosis. In today’s society doctor’s are expected to deliver patient’s the whole truth in order for patients to actively make their own health decisions. Shelly K. Schwartz discusses the truth in her essay, Is It Ever Ok to Lie to Patients?. Schwartz argument is that patients should be told the truth about their health and presented and addressed in a way most comfortable to the patient.
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
After reading the classic and modern Hippocratic Oath, it is my contention that the modern vision is still applicable today. First of all, I appreciate the humility of the oath because this oath reminds physicians that they are caring for people not just illness: “I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability” (Tyson, 2001). Sometimes, patients get lost in the shuffle of medicine; they are much more than an illness and need to be treated as such. Patient centeredness is reflected in this oath.
In Hippocrates’ Oath, he states that he will pass his knowledge of medicine on to those who seek to enter the “Art” and to use his knowledge in order to help those who suffer from a sickness and when doing so, he will not bend to corruption or bribery. It can be believed that his Oath is still relevant in today’s medical field because the main points of the Oath can and are applied in the modern day. Hippocrates’ main point in the Oath is to only use medicine to help those who need it and to not partake in any actions that are dangerous to their clients. Many doctors believe it is for their best interest to do what by all means necessary for the patient. For example, society believes that it is not very kind to judge someone based on their body image. Nowadays, people promote that not everyone needs to be a size two, but rather enjoy the body they’ve been given. Doctors may see society’s view on supporting obesity as a way to avoid serious
Monteverdi, Claudio Giovanni Antonio (1567-1643), Italian composer, the most important figure in the transition from Renaissance to baroque music.
As medicine becomes more commercialized, patient-physician relationships become less intimate and thus patients hold less sympathy for doctors who make mistakes. Having no emotional ties to their physician, patients are more likely to change doctors after they discover their current one has made a mistake. This is a problem for physicians as it is a loss for their business and ultimately their revenue. Because physicians want to keep a steady influx of patients and avoid malpractice they have equated mistakes to loss of business. “It’s almost impossible for a physician to talk to a patient honestly about mistakes because of the doctors fear they will lose patients” (Gawande 58) But, a 2006 study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found full disclosure of error reduces likelihood that patients will change physician and improves satisfaction, increases trust, and results in a generally positive response from the patient. By fully explaining why the error occurred and how the patient should have been treated, the doctor takes responsibility for the error, which many patients respect and appreciate. This appreciation can go a long way in the patient-physician relationship and in most cases, help the patient forgive his
Hippocrates was born in Kos in 460 BC during the Pre-Socratic age. He was a Greek physician who is regarded today as the father of medicine and its ethics. Hippocrates influenced medical science and its associated practices through his findings. The renown “Hippocratic Oath” was derived from his teachings. He taught medicine as an ethical and professional practice. Hippocrates created a separation between medical practices and supernatural beliefs. He insisted that physical illness was influenced by natural causes and not gods or spirits. He researched how a person’s diet and environment influence their general health and promoted the idea that phlegm and bile signified imbalances of the body and caused disease. Hippocrates influenced the medical approach of
...e gap in attitudes between pre-medicalized and modern time periods. The trends of technological advancement and human understanding project a completely medicalized future in which medical authorities cement their place above an intently obedient society.
Since euthanasia is a divisive subject, a variety of interpretations occurs. First, people that are in favor of euthanasia agreed that it is depressing to see a terminally ill person going through excruciating pain. Also, every human being deserves a dignified and peaceful death. The West’s Encyclopedia of American law, illustrates that a person or physician that cause the death of a patient is acting with compassion and mercy (Phelps, Lehman 237). In addition, people that agree with euthanasia believe that seeing a person experiencing constant misery and pain because of heath issue should have the to die with dignity. In this society where the protection human rights is in a debate on both sides, people that are in favor with euthanasia,
However, for centuries now, physicians in training have been taking the ?Hippocratic Oath?. This oath is taken from the Greek physician Hypocrites who lived thousands of years ago. The ?Hippocratic Oath? imposes on two duties: to prolong life, and relieve suffering. The problems come about because these two duties are often in conflict. The question most of the time is to decide when prol...
Euthanasia has always been a very controversial topic amongst doctors and civilians. Many claim that active euthanasia is wrong no matter what the reason, while others see it as a merciful way for the patient to die. Some would say that passive euthanasia is the morally right thing to do, but others see it as unnecessary pain and suffering for the patient. James Rachels provides a strong argument on why active euthanasia should be allowed and explains the morality of “killing and letting die”
At 18 years of age, young people in the United States of America can take on most of the rights and responsibilities of adulthood. However, before that the young man is understood as a teenager. A young person between the ages of 13 and 19 has to deal with the problems of adolescence. Most people experience conflict during this period of their lives. At this time the young people are changing rapidly, both physically and emotionally. Moreover, they are searching for self-identity, which cause some difficulties. As the young people are growing, they are developing their own values of life that often differ from the ones of their parents. It must be said that teenagers are influenced by the values expressed by their friends, newspapers, television, magazines and teachers. It is good if these expreesed values are suitable for young people and affect them in the right way. During this period of life, young people begin to participate in social activities. They begin to do more things in the company of members of the opposite sex and fewer things in the company of their families.
In conclusion, The Hippocratic Oath was an innovational tool to allow patients and physicians a set of standards that will uphold to the views of society; this includes, religious beliefs, usage of skills for the good, and the continuation of learning of medicine. This Oath allowed for physicians to be more accepted by society now that patients were understanding of the role they played. Which in turn, resulting in more people seeking out medical treatment when required. Not only does this benefit physicians while they are continuing to learn medicine but it also betters society’s overall
Nowadays there are so many news regarding social problem involving youngster. In fact it has become a norm to read articles about teenagers’ issue. We should realize that problem involving young generations is actually a huge problem to the nation as they will become our leader. Early prevention is better than cure, thus we need to identify the reason why this problem is happening and what are the consequences from this teenager social problem.
Hippocrates was a Greek physician that left a legacy that existed during his lifetime in Classical Greece and continues today. His moral and ethical standards were the foundation of his teachings, along with his meticulous writings concerning the study of the human body. He firmly believed that poor health and disease were the result of a natural process that could be discovered and cured through careful clinical reasoning and observations. Hippocrates travelled throughout Greece teaching and describing disease symptoms, and taught doctors how to analyze and treat specific illnesses or diseases. Hippocrates’s accomplishments give him the respect from doctors and medical professionals around the world that continues even today.