Week 7 - Ethics & Professionalism (flipped classroom)

Question 1

What is The World Medical Association?

Answer 1

International organisation representing physicians
(1947-)
* provides ethical guidance to physicians
through its Declarations, Resolutions and
Statements
* guide National Medical Associations,
governments and international
organizations throughout the world
* in official relations with the World Health
Organization (WHO)

Question 2

What is the General Medical Council?

Answer 2

-Regulatory body for medical professionals in the UK
-Purpose:
= maintain and manage a register of doctors licenced to practice medicine in UK
=set professional standards of practice (ethical guidelines)
=supervise medical education and training
=revalidation and appraisal of doctor’s fitness to practice
=investigate on concerns about doctors and enforce professional discipline

Question 3

What does the World Medical Council say about fitness to practice?

Answer 3

-‘To practise safely, doctors must be competent in what they do.
They must establish and maintain effective relationships with
patients, respect patients’ autonomy and act responsibly and
appropriately if they or a colleague fall ill and their performance
suffers.
- ‘But these attributes, while essential, are not enough. Doctors have
a respected position in society and their work gives them privileged
access to patients, some of whom may be very vulnerable. A doctor
whose conduct has shown that they cannot justify the trust placed in
them should not continue in unrestricted practice while that remains
the case.

Question 4

What is a doctor’s first duty?

Answer 4

• The care of your patient is your first
  concern
• Becomes a legal duty once doctor assume responsibility of care

Question 5

Define Burnout

Answer 5

• A syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that is not successfully managed
• Has 3 dimensions:
  –> feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
  –> Increased mental distance from your job, feelings of negativism// cynicism related to your job
  –>reduced professional efficacy

Question 6

What does burnout impact?

Answer 6

-Patient care
-Professionalism
-Physicians’ own care and safety
- The viability of healthcare systems (reduction in physicians work effort)

Question 7

Why is a medical student’s fitness to practice important?

Answer 7

1. Students are in a privileged position and have access to patients who may be vulnerable
   2.Students’ fitness to practice related to health
   * “medical schools should consider how a student’s behaviour or
   health might affect patient and public safety, or the public’s trust in
   the medical profession”
   * “Students must be aware that their behaviour outside the clinical
   environment, including in their personal lives, may have an impact
   on their fitness to practise. Their behaviour at all times must justify
   the trust the public places in the medical profession.”