What are doctors saying about
other doctors?
Doctors talking about other
doctors could prove to be a sensitive subject, as it involves professional
protocol, as well as medical ethics. Perhaps doctors, as the insiders, should
be the only ones who write about this topic, as anyone and everyone else is an
outsider. In today's world, professional protocol with respect to doctors
talking about other doctors is becoming a growing area of concern, because
other health care professionals are being confronted with situations that arise
and need to be resolved.
What is happening when
doctors are talking about other doctors?
Should other doctors or health
care professionals become alarmed or should patients be upset, when they hear
their doctors talking about other doctors? Are they justified in assuming that their doctors are talking about them, in a negative way, too?
Communication is an area of
moral and ethical concern. There is an ideal standard of professional protocol
for doctors to adhere to, in terms of communication with other doctors. At the
same time, there is the possibility of a less than ideal scenario that deviates
from the ideal standard of professional protocol. In other words, even for
doctors, there is always the possibility of human error.
Doctors are engaged in a high
calling that requires specialized knowledge conforming to ethical standards.
They offer a professional level of service to patients and their families, in
exchange for a substantial financial return, although that is not always their
primary goal. They work under specific and strict rules of conduct in
conjunction with pre-determined goals, directed towards the healing, health and
wholeness of their patients.
Doctors perceive their
professions as being their lifetime careers, not something taken lightly. They
are unlikely to do anything that might jeopardize their medical careers or that
of other doctors. Individually and collectively, doctor's standards of practice vary. This depends upon the kind of practice they are engaged in, their
personal moral and ethical standards, as well as the current professional
standards, in the country where they reside and work.
Confidentiality with respect to
others is important to doctors and others in the medical profession.
Professional protocol demands
strict adherence to a pre-established code of ethics, a precedence established
by others, who have preceded them in practice. There are rules of conduct subject
to professional regulation in order to establish, maintain and continually
improve the quality of health care doctors administer to others.
Doctors function in different
capacities in terms of their professions, but because health care is complex,
doctors are forced to consult with other doctors, as a source of medical
knowledge and expertise. Professionally, it is important they communicate with
one another, on a regular basis.
Ethically speaking, personal
information about other doctors is privileged information. This is true with
regard to any information about their patients, as well.
Doctors need to share medical
information with other doctors, at various times, in order to diagnose and
treat their patients appropriately. Doctors must maintain an open line of
communication with each other. Any breach of conduct in this regard, could
jeopardize their lines of communication.
How their communication is
perceived by patients and their families, non-professionals or other health
care professionals may present a problem.
One must suggest that any
breach of doctor-doctor confidentiality, with regard to the release of personal
or medical information, is a justifiable cause for concern. This includes the
inappropriate release of doctor-patient, personal or medical information to
others, who should not have access to this information.
There is an element of trust
that a patient must have with respect to his or her own doctor. Doctors have to
be able to trust other doctors, not to disclose any information deemed
to be inappropriate.
Perhaps because of the
increasing number of patients and the shortage of doctors, the professional
protocol of doctors is in danger of becoming compromised. This is raising alarm
with regard to health care professionals, as well as patients and their
families.
"What are doctors talking
about?"
"Why are doctors talking
about other doctors?"
Anyone might wonder what they
are saying and why. Does this involve a degree of fear coupled with paranoia?
"...some types of
communication between a person and one of these professionals are
"privileged" and may not be discussed or divulged to third parties.
In those jurisdictions in which the law makes provision for such
confidentiality, there are usually penalties for its violation." (1)
Professional levels of moral
and ethical protocol regarding effective communication standards help to
establish appropriate medical and ethical guidelines for doctors and other
health care professionals, with respect to confidentiality.
Those who are concerned about
moral or ethical breaches in communication of any kind, by a doctor or other
health care professional, in terms of non-effective or inappropriate
communication, are justified in speaking directly to their own doctors
with regard to the issue at hand. If necessary, this can be taken to higher
levels, which include other doctors or other health care professionals, on
various levels.
Most doctors are not about to
say anything about other doctors that will bring harm to them, as that would
be against their ethical principles. At the same time, many doctors and
patients are in difficult and challenging situations. Doctors will attempt to
resolve issues of concern with other doctors, as well as their patients, as it
is in their best interest to do so.
So, your doctor is talking
about another doctor? Remember that your doctor is a professional person, working
under the mandate of moral and ethical, professional protocol guidelines. So
are other doctors.
You can expect to see your
health care improve because of it.
Rest assured that your doctor
and other doctors have each other's best interests at heart and yours, too.
No comments:
Post a Comment