Virtues And Vices

Bioethics: VIRTUES and VICES

OBJECTIVE

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Identify virtues of a health care provider in the context of the goals of medicine

Goals of Medicine       

Promote health, prevent disease Alleviate pain and suffering Cure disease Improve/maintain function Prevent untimely death Education of the patient and family Do not harm

VIRTUES OF THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL

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Acquired habits or dispositions to do what is morally right

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Traits of character

FIDELITY Faithfulness to trust and promise

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HEALTHCARE

Patient Advocate

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Keep patient’s best interest first in mind

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Intend one’s good (benevolence)

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Avoid conflict of interest

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RESEARCH

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Respect dignity of man - seek good - avoid harm - informed consent

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Provide truth to the public

Research participant and public advocate

HONESTY Truthfulness and integrity

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TRUTHFULNESS Good faith intent to convey the truth, both in words and conduct, to others, as best one knows it

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Truth telling -diagnosis, prognosis, benefits, burdens, etc Research - publishing accurate findings - acknowledge contributors - cite source of support

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INTEGRITY - being true to one self or wholeness - congruence between belief’s, words and actions - making choices in line with one’s values

HUMILITY Recognizing one’s capabilities and limitations Accepting deserved praise and denying undeserved praise

COMPASSION Feeling for the loss/suffering of another Self-sacrifice, given voluntarily for the benefit of another

Compassionate competent care is the essence of the healing profession

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Listening to patient’s anxiety

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Telling bad news kindly

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Reducing burdens for research subjects

COURAGE Doing what is right without undue fear Resoluteness, heroism

PRUDENCE Habitual deliberateness, caution and circumspection in action Foresight

JUSTICE Constant will to give another his due

VICES 

PRIDE Inordinate self-esteem, conceit Superiority over others

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GREED Inordinate acquisitiveness

Acknowledgement Powerpoint presentation slides by: MILAGROS F. NERI, MD,MA,MPH

Department of Community & Family Medicine Far Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation Fairview, Quezon City, Philippines