What is Medical Ethics?

Doctors have certain obligations towards their patients, and society at large. The doctor, who is entrusted with the duty of guarding the life and health of the members of society, is expected to do his job with a sense of responsibility. A doctor finds himself in a position in which he could easily misuse his special capacity for his own interest at the cost of others. Society and the state cannot possibly allow this to happen.

For this, doctors have to follow certain principles while practising their profession, in addition to the rules and legislation framed by the state.

When the doctor causes harm to his patients intentionally, these laws come to the patient’s rescue, and if the doctor is found guilty, he has to face legal prosecution.

Hence, it is very necessary that doctors know and follow the provisions contained in the legislation. Also, the doctor should be well versed with his own rights as well as duties and obligations to his patients in particular and society at large.

For this purpose, it is essential that doctors themselves adhere to basic ethics and etiquettes in their practice.

Medical ethics means moral principles that ought to guide doctors in their practice of medicine and in their dealings with their patients and other members of their profession.

Medical etiquettes would be essentially limited to the mutual relationship between members of the medical profession. It actually means courtesy and respect, which ought to govern the conduct and relationship between members of the medical profession.

Contributed by
Dr. R.S.Bangal
MD, DNB, LL.B.
Associate Professor,
Forensic Medicine & Medical Jurisprudence
Grant Medical College and J.J.Group of Hospitals,
Mumbai

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