Medical Ethics: Physicians and Patients

"Ethics is about knowing what is good and what should be avoided" (Socrates; 470-399 BC). Medical ethics refers to a system of moral principles that apply values and judgements to the practice of medicine. Ethics is, and always has been, an essential element of the doctor-patient relationship, which facilitates the exchange of medical knowledge and care within a framework of trust. The basic principles of medical ethics are autonomy (respecting the patient's preferences), beneficence (taking action for the good of the patient), non-maleficence (first, do no harm) and justice (fairness and equality). The structure of this book deals with medical ethics issues involving doctors, but at the core will always be the relationship between doctors and patients.