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UMA President's Blog
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AMA PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL ETHICS
The medical profession has long subscribed to a body of ethical statements developed
primarily for the benefit of the patient. As a member of this profession, a physician must
recognize responsibility not only to patients, but also to society, to other health
professionals, and to self. The following Principles adopted by the American Medical
Association are not laws, but standards of conduct which define the essentials of
honorable behavior for the physician.
- A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical service with compassion
and respect for human dignity.
- A physician shall deal honestly with patients and colleagues, and strive to expose those
physicians deficient in character or competence, or who engage in fraud or deception.
- A physician shall respect the law and also recognize a responsibility to seek changes in
those requirements which are contrary to the best interest of the patient.
- A physician shall respect the rights of patients, of colleagues, and of other health
professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences within the constraints of the law.
- A physician shall continue to study, apply and advance scientific knowledge, make
relevant information available to patients, colleagues, and the public, obtain
consultation, and use the talents of other health professionals when indicated.
- A physician shall, in the provision of appropriate patient care, except in emergencies,
be free to choose whom to serve, with whom to associate, and the environment in which to
provide medical services.
- A physician shall recognize a responsibility to participate in activities contributing
to an improved community.
UMA ECONOMIC CODE OF MEDICAL ETHICS FOR UTAH PHYSICIANS
The physicians of Utah hold to their work in the practice of medicine and surgery in
all of their branches to be that of an ancient and honored profession, the goals of which
are to alleviate suffering, to cure sickness and disease insofar as it is humanly
possible, and to prolong meaningful life.
We affirm both the right of patients to be free to choose from whom to
receive services and the right of physicians to be free to choose whom to serve,
with whom to contract, with whom to associate, and the environment in which to
provide medical care. A physician’s right to contract or not extends to
both patients and third party payers alike.
We acknowledge that the cost of medical care
recently has risen faster than the general rate of inflation and that it is reaching a
level which society may not be able or willing to afford without the sacrifice of other
necessary goods and services. We further acknowledge that, because the practice of
medicine and surgery is an art as well as a science, there are neither dogmas nor certain
formulae for delivering simultaneously the optimum and most cost effective care in every
case. We realize, however, that it now behooves every physician to conduct his or her
practice so as to reduce waste and over-utilization. Therefore, in order to deliver the
highest quality care at the lowest cost to society, we the physicians of the Utah Medical
Association, do hereby affirm the following precepts:
- We will deliver only indicated medical care. We will neither make referrals, perform
tests or diagnostic procedures, perform operations, give medications or prescriptions for
medications, nor give opinions to support delivery of such medical care unless it is
specifically indicated.
- We will distinguish clearly between necessary and elective care or procedures and convey
such distinction to each patient.
- We will encourage our patients to receive necessary health care in an economically
competitive setting consistent with high quality medical care.
- We will, after having admitted a patient to a hospital or other health care facility,
make everyeffort to discharge the patient as soon as it is possible to do so, provided the
quality of medical care is not compromised. We will encourage administrators of hospitals
and other health facilities to be cooperative in this endeavor.
- In any case where we are not certain as to whether medical care is necessary we will
seek advice and/or consultation from peers before delivering said medical care unless the
delay of seeking consultation would compromise necessary emergency care.
- We consider it our duty to society and to other members of the medical profession to
point out any physician or other individual or institution which may be, in our opinion,
delivering unnecessary medical care.
- We invite review by our peers of our practices of health care delivery.
- We will fully discuss with our patients or their legal guardians the expected cost of
any procedure, tests, operations, medications, or other aspects of health care insofar as
it is possible. We will also fully explain to patients or their legal guardians the known
substantial and serious risks of alternative treatments, procedures and therapies before
their undertaking insofar as it is possible. We urge all health care providers to do the
same. We invite the participation of all patients in the decision-making process of his or
her health needs as regards cost of care and the options open to them. We expect the
patient to do his or her part in controlling costs by this discussion.
- We will be fair in our professional charges for our services. We will relate these
charges to the community in which we practice and the financial resources available for
health care. We will not withhold necessary medical care from the needy regardless of
their ability to pay.
- We will not exploit third-party payors by charging more or performing more services for
insured patients than we would for patients who are not insured.
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