He must follow established rules of clinical asepsis and control of infectious disease religiously, and he must learn the new HIPAA rules and regulations well enough to comply with them and supervise compliance on the part of coworkers under his responsibility.
However, nothing in the field of medicine presents more of challenge in the field of professional responsibility than ethical decisions related to the end of human life.
Undoubtedly, the dramatic increase in medical knowledge and the evolution of intervention capabilities have tremendously increased the ability of the newly graduated physician to improve the lives of patients. On the other hand, the availability of modern medical equipment and procedures also present a context for many ethical decisions of the type only relatively rarely faced by physicians of earlier generations.
Contemporary medical science has made the distinction between life and death a matter of subjective choice, particularly in cases where patients and their families must rely on professional advice from physicians on matters involving the distinction between ordinary and extraordinary means of prolonging biological life. Such cases may challenge the ability of new physicians to adhere to objective professional medical standards, especially where they conflict with the personal or spiritual beliefs of the physician.
Unlike matters of cleanliness and patient confidentiality that are outlined by very specific rules and definitions, end-of-life decisions and other factors in the choices of treatment of terminally ill patients require the new physician to apply ethical standards that are not readily capable of clinical analysis. In such cases, patients and their families often seek medical advice and recommendations from physicians whose personal beliefs may differ from those of his patients. In many respects, these situations present the greatest challenge to any physician;...
In general the nature of the industry and the types of relationships maintained between practitioners and clients determines the particular standards within each industry.
Medicine is already among the most difficult fields of study and the complexities of professional standards and the ramifications of ethical choices only further compound those difficulties, especially for newly graduated physicians.
References
Abrams, N., Buckner, M.D. (1999) Medical Ethics: A Clinical Textbook and Reference for the Health Care Professionals. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Federation of State Medical Boards [Online Homepage] Accessed at http://www.fsmb.org/
International Fitness Professionals Association [Online Homepage] Accessed at http://www.ifpa-fitness.com/Fitness-Certifications/fitness_certifications.htm
National Accountancy of State Boards of Accountancy [Online Homepage] Accessed at http://www.nasba.org/NASBAWeb.nsf/CBT-OpenFrameset
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
Online Homepage] Accessed at http://www.ncees.org/licensure/licensure_for_engineers/
New York State Board of Bar Examiners [Online Homepage] Accessed at http://www.nybarexam.org/frequent.htm#Cost%20and%20Payment%20of%20Required%20Fees
Temple University Law School Bar Information [Online Homepage] Accessed at http://www2.law.temple.edu/page.asp?page=barinformation
