American Medical Ethics

in forming the opinion and making the decision.

When analyzing the information shared from the interview, ethics are a significant part of a physicians training. The code of conduct is referred to as the Hippocratic Oath in the medial field. The Hippocratic Oath dates back to the Greek and “is one of the oldest binding documents in history” (Tyson, 2001). "The Oath of Hippocrates," holds the American Medical Association's Code of Medical Ethics (1996 edition), "has remained in Western civilization as an expression of ideal conduct for the physician." “98% of American and nearly 50% of British medical students swear some kind of oath, either on entry to medical school or at graduation” (Sritharan et al., 2001). These principals are instilled early on although the “Oaths are neither a universal endeavor nor a legal obligation, and they cannot guarantee morality” but have been “found that affirmation may
strengthen a doctor's resolve to behave with integrity in extreme circumstances” (Sritharan et al., 2001). The modern version of the Hippocratic Oath includes many of the same points of ethical behaviors that Dr. Ruggio addressed were important to him. Those including the respecting hard work and education, work to heal the sick, avoid over treating patients, treat people with compassion, sincerity and respect their privacy. Similarities between Dr. Ruggio ethics and the Hippocratic oath includes that the work is done without the focus of financial gain and greed and a physicians work is to find ways of prevention as best treatment and may be called upon to take life which is to be done with the upmost humility and respect and by practicing medicine it is important to remember they are part of a society and it is their duty to continue to educate and pass along the teaching to others.

Medical ethics include four basic principals. These four principals include the following autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence and justice. These four principals support the Hippocratic Oath teachings.

Autonomy is the principal that a patient of sound mind is allowed to self determine treatment and care even if that decision is not in the patients best interest. Gillion stated that autonomy is the most important of the four medical ethics and supports his stance by stating “I own up unhesitatingly to believing that in such a case it should, and my main reason is that far more harm than good would result from a social or moral system that permits, let alone requires, compulsory medical treatment—even life saving treatment—of competent adults in cases where those adults have competently and voluntarily rejected that treatment”(Gillon, 2003). Autonomy is respected as long as it truly a self-governing decision. For instance “if a person’s choices, decisions, beliefs, desires, etc. are due to such external influences as unreflected socialization, manipulation, coercion, etc., they are not autonomous” (Varelius, 2006).

The second ethical principal beneficence which is defined as giving to or improving ones life.
“Beneficent actions can be taken to help prevent or remove harms or to simply improve the situation of others” (Pantilat MD, 2008). “The term beneficence connotes acts of mercy, kindness, and charity. It is suggestive of altruism, love, humanity, and promoting the good of others” (Beauchamp, 2013). Acts of beneficence not only include treatment but also helping with prevention such as educating the harm of smoking, drinking and/or drug abuse, encouraging and motivating people to be more physically fit, helping a person who is sick and practicing medicine in the normal scope of business as a physician.

The third principal in medical ethics is nonmaleficence, which is the opposite of beneficence, which means to purposefully vow to not harm. “This principle, however, offers little useful guidance to physicians since many beneficial therapies also have serious risks. The pertinent ethical issue is whether the benefits outweigh the burdens” (Pantilat MD,
2008).