Book ReviewRobert B. Baker, ;, Arthur L. Caplan, ;, Linda L. Emanuel, ; and Stephen R. Latham, , eds. The American Medical Ethics Revolution: How the AMA’s Code of Ethics Has Transformed Physicians’ Relationships to Patients, Professionals, and Society. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999. Pp. 396. $59.95 (cloth).

Ethics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 354-356
Author(s):  
William B. Irvine
Keyword(s):  
Medical Ethics ◽  
American Medical ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Johns Hopkins University

The Hair Stylist, the Corn Merchant, and the Doctor: Ambiguously Altruistic

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lois Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
American Medical Association ◽  
Medical Association ◽  
Medical Ethics ◽  
American Medical ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Hippocratic Oath ◽  
Professional Standards ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Willingness To Refer

The AHP Code of Ethics requires members to serve the best interests of their clients, be clear and honest with them, and keep their secrets confidential. Members pledge to represent their skills and qualifications honestly and to make appropriate referrals to others more qualified when out of their depth. AHP stands for “Associated Hair Professionals,” or hair stylists, but their Code of Ethics looks a lot like the Hippocratic Oath and the current Principles of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association. All of these ethics statements emphasize honesty, confidentiality, competence, serving patients’ (or clients’) best interests, and willingness to refer to other qualified professionals. But it’s not just doctors and hair professionals who have Codes of Ethics. The SPCP — Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals —requires its members to “maintain high professional standards consistent with sound practices,” “conduct business relationships in a manner that is fair to all,” and avoid false or misleading statements to the effect that the application of permanent makeup is not tattooing, not permanent, and not painful. (Physicians might consider that last point — I’m grateful for the time my doctor once warned me, “This is really going to hurt.”)

Are Military and Medical Ethics Necessarily Incompatible? A Canadian Case Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Rochon ◽  
Bryn Williams-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Medical Ethics ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Core Values ◽  
Dual Loyalty ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Military Institution ◽  
The Military ◽  
Military Physicians

Military physicians are often perceived to be in a position of ‘dual loyalty’ because they have responsibilities towards their patients but also towards their employer, the military institution. Further, they have to ascribe to and are bound by two distinct codes of ethics (i.e., medical and military), each with its own set of values and duties, that could at first glance be considered to be very different or even incompatible. How, then, can military physicians reconcile these two codes of ethics and their distinct professional/institutional values, and assume their responsibilities towards both their patients and the military institution? To clarify this situation, and to show how such a reconciliation might be possible, we compared the history and content of two national professional codes of ethics: the Defence Ethics of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Code of Ethics of the Canadian Medical Association. Interestingly, even if the medical code is more focused on duties and responsibility while the military code is more focused on core values and is supported by a comprehensive ethical training program, they also have many elements in common. Further, both are based on the same core values of loyalty and integrity, and they are broad in scope but are relatively flexible in application. While there are still important sources of tension between and limits within these two codes of ethics, there are fewer differences than may appear at first glance because the core values and principles of military and medical ethics are not so different.

THOMAS PERCIVAL, MD WRITES TO HIS CHILDREN ABOUT CRUELTY TO INSECTS

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-300
Author(s):  
T. E. C.
Keyword(s):  
Medical Ethics ◽  
American Medical ◽  
Ethical Codes ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Medical Professions

Thomas Percival (1740-1804) is best known for his Medical Ethics (1794). The British and American medical professions have adopted much of "Percival" in their ethical codes.1 He was also the author of a delightful book of tales, fables, and reflections written for the instruction of his children. This is how Percival taught his children about cruelty to insects.2 Mr. Melmoth, in one of his elegant letters, informs his friend, that the snails have had more than their share of his peaches and nectarines this season; but that he deems it a sort of cruelty to suffer them to be destroyed. It seems to be his opinion that it is no less inhuman to crush to death a harmless insect, whose only offence is that he eats the food which nature has provided for his sustenance, than it would be to kill a more bulky creature for the same reason. For the sensations of many insects are at least as exquisite as those of animals of more enlarged dimensions. The Millepedes rolls itself round upon the slightest touch; and the snail draws in her horns upon the least approach of the hand. Such instances of sensibility certainly confirm the observation of our inimitable Shakespeare, who teaches us that —The poor beetle which we trated upon, In corporal sufferance feels a pang as great As when a giant dies. But whilst we encourage these amiable feelings of the heart, we must not forget that humanity itself may be earned to an unreasonable, and even ridiculous extreme.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document