Medical Ethics for the EM Physician

Abstract

The goal of medical ethics is to assist the physician in making virtuous decisions that are in accordance with his or her moral beliefs. When faced with ethical dilemmas, a person is almost never right or wrong—but rather somewhere in the middle. Having a solid foundation in ethical principles can help guide decision-making. The four major ethical principles that form a physician–patient relationship are (1) beneficence, (2) non-maleficence, (3) autonomy, and (4) justice. Patients may arrive in a condition in which they lack decision-making capacity and rely on the physician to make decisions in his or her best interest. Physicians may not be given the opportunity to provide fully informed consent before workup and therapeutic intervention are begun. Emergency physicians may also face ethical scenarios dealing with care of minors and end-of-life care. Caution should be exercised when treating friends, family members, and coworkers.