How Virtue Ethics Informs Medical Professionalism Assignment

How Virtue Ethics Informs Medical Professionalism - Assignment Example From the onset, it is important to understand that doctor have singular duty to care for patients, who need to earn their trust. In this regard, while treating or diagnosing patients the welfare of the patient is a priority. In order for the doctors to earn the essential trust, they should exercise humility while undertaking their duties, knowing to well that patients have trusted them with their lives; trust that must be earned (Pozgar, 2012). Throughout the history of health professional practice, patients are given the freedom of seeking a second opinion. As a result of that second opinion, they get confidence. Patients are entitled to make choices regarding their lives and health, and to make those decisions they must have the liberty to make informed choices after consulting the experts they trust. On the same note, doctors and other healthcare givers are privileged whenever patients come to seek for their services. Patients have the choice of picking the doctors of their choice. On this note, they should be treated with humility and respect that they deserve. From the discussion above, it is clear that patients are at liberty to seek opinions of other doctors as a second opinion (Moeller, et al 2012). The second question is whether Dr. Z acted ethically when told the patient, while in a state of agitation, to seek the second opinion but, did not think that the response would be any different from his. Whereas Dr. Z is human and may be provoked and whereas he felt that he had done the diagnosis well, code of ethics requires restraint from him. Health professionals are in a demanding industry that requires strict observance of ethical standards (Pozgar, 2012). One of the essential ethical requirements in the health profession is humility and restraint, even when provoked by clients.