Medical Ethics and the Law

In: The annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Band 437, S. 19-36

Abstract

Medicine, as a learned profession, has traditionally insisted that the conduct of MDs be governed by its own code of ethics. Increased government regulation of medical practice, however, has largely substituted external, governmental regulation for earlier ethical constraints. Government regulations have been imposed both in response to greater risks in the practice of medicine & in consequence of ever greater government funding of health care. Though regulations reflect a contemporary consensus on ethical attitudes, their promulgation has narrowed the exercise of the MD's independent ethical judgment. While the MD is increasingly subject to legal requirements in his practice & in such areas as informed consent, the use of human Ss in clinical research, genetic & biological research, & the management of the dying patient, his ethical sensitivity in complying with such requirements is still essential for the protection of patients. HA.