More than 21,000 physicians in 25 specialties responded to this year's Medscape Physician Ethics Report. Some notable findings:
A slim majority of doctors (54%) say they favor allowing physician-assisted suicide, commenting that patients have a right to a dignified death in the face of incurable illness. Support among physicians for assisted suicide has increased in recent years.
Doctors were divided regarding random drug and alcohol testing, with 39% of physicians in favor of it and 43% opposing it.
More than two thirds (69%) of respondents say patients who practice unhealthy behaviors (such as smoking or poor diet) and ignore treatment recommendations should pay more for health insurance. Fewer than 1 in 5 (18%) flatly oppose factoring behavior into the cost equation.
The vast majority of doctors (99%) responded that it is not acceptable to have a romantic or sexual relationship with a current patient. Physicians are not as strongly opposed to starting a romantic or sexual relationship with a patient when the factor of time is introduced, however. According to the survey, 22% of physicians said starting a relationship is acceptable when 6 or more months have elapsed since they stopped treating the patient.
Approximately 9 out of 10 physicians (91%) believe that it is never acceptable to cover up or avoid revealing a mistake that would harm a patient. Only 6% of respondents say there are, or could be, situations in which it would be acceptable to cover up or fail to disclose a mistake.
What do you think? Do any of the results of our report surprise you? Click here to view the overview report and then add your comments below.
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Cite this: Leslie Kane. What Do You Think About Physician Ethics? - Medscape - Dec 16, 2014.
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