The document outlines the concepts of professionalism and ethics in medicine, emphasizing their importance in fostering trust and high standards of care. It details key principles such as altruism, accountability, duty, and respect for autonomy, supported by case studies demonstrating their application in practice. The document concludes with a call to action for healthcare professionals to commit to continuous learning and ethical reflection.

1. Concept of Professionalism and
Ethics
• By Dr. Rajender Kumar Thakral
• Professor and HOD, Dept. of Pathology
• Graphic Era Institute of Medical Sciences

2. What is Professionalism?
• Professionalism in medicine is the consistent
demonstration of high-level competence,
behavior, and moral conduct.

3. What is Ethics?
• Medical ethics refers to the principles of moral
conduct that guide medical practice, ensuring
respect for patients, justice, and fairness.

4. Why is Professionalism Important?
• Professionalism is critical in medicine because
it fosters trust between healthcare providers
and patients, ensuring high standards of care.

5. Impact of Professionalism on
Society
• Professionalism and ethics in medicine help
ensure fairness, equitable access to care, and
public trust in healthcare systems.

6. Altruism
• Altruism is the selfless concern for the well-
being of others. Doctors put patients' needs
ahead of their own personal gain.

7. Altruism Case Study
• A rural doctor arranges transport for a patient
to a city hospital for better care,
demonstrating altruism by prioritizing patient
welfare.

8. Accountability
• Accountability involves taking responsibility
for one's actions, maintaining transparency,
and fulfilling professional obligations.

9. Accountability Case Study
• A surgeon discloses a possible surgical error to
a patient’s family, ensuring accountability.

10. Excellence
• Excellence in healthcare involves continuously
improving skills and knowledge to provide the
best possible patient care.

11. Excellence Case Study
• A doctor updates knowledge by attending
conferences and offers cutting-edge
treatments.

12. Duty
• Duty means being committed to providing
care, even in difficult situations, and putting
patient welfare first.

13. Duty Case Study
• During a crisis, a doctor continues to work
long hours to provide care to all patients.

14. Honor and Integrity
• Honor and integrity are the commitment to
ethical behavior, ensuring honesty, and
avoiding conflicts of interest.

15. Honor and Integrity Case Study
• A physician refuses a financial incentive from a
pharmaceutical company to promote a drug.

16. Respect for Others
• Respecting patients' cultural values and
providing care that honors their dignity is
central to professionalism.

17. Respect for Others Case Study
• A Muslim patient requests a female doctor,
and the hospital accommodates this request
to respect cultural beliefs.

18. Autonomy
• Autonomy means respecting patients' rights to
make informed decisions about their
healthcare.

19. Autonomy Case Study
• A terminally ill patient opts for palliative care,
and the team respects their decision.

20. Beneficence
• Beneficence means acting in the best interest
of patients, ensuring their well-being and
health.

21. Beneficence Case Study
• A pediatrician vaccinates children in a low-
income neighborhood, despite challenges.

22. Non-maleficence
• Non-maleficence means avoiding harm to
patients, ensuring treatments balance risks
and benefits.

23. Non-maleficence Case Study
• A surgeon avoids recommending risky surgery,
opting for safer alternatives.

24. Justice
• Justice ensures fairness in healthcare,
including equitable distribution of resources
and access to care.

25. Justice Case Study
• During a pandemic, ventilators are distributed
based on medical need and fairness.

26. Confidentiality
• Confidentiality involves protecting patient
privacy and ensuring sensitive information is
not disclosed.

27. Confidentiality Case Study
• A doctor ensures a teenager’s contraceptive
consultation remains private.

28. Technology and Ethics
• Emerging technologies like AI present ethical
challenges around accuracy and patient
autonomy.

29. Technology Case Study
• Doctors use AI but ensure human oversight to
address false positives.

30. Cultural Competence
• Respecting cultural differences in healthcare
delivery ensures ethical and personalized
patient care.

31. Cultural Competence Case Study
• A hospital accommodates a religious request
for female staff during treatment.

32. Resource Allocation
• During times of limited resources, ethical
decision-making ensures fair treatment for all.

33. Resource Allocation Case Study
• Doctors create a fair system for ICU bed
allocation during a pandemic.

34. Building Trust in Doctor-Patient
Relationships
• Trust is built through effective communication,
empathy, and honesty.

35. Doctor-Patient Relationship Case
Study
• A physician rebuilds trust with a patient
through attentive listening.

36. Interprofessional Relationships
• Healthcare requires collaboration and respect
between different medical professionals for
optimal care.

37. Interprofessional Case Study
• A multidisciplinary team works together for a
successful patient outcome.

38. Self-Care in Professionalism
• Healthcare providers must take care of
themselves to avoid burnout and ensure
effective care.

39. Self-Care Case Study
• A physician recognizes burnout and takes time
to recover, improving patient care on return.

40. Reflective Practice
• Reflection helps healthcare professionals
assess their actions and improve continuously.

41. Reflective Practice Example
• Doctors reflect on complex cases to enhance
decision-making in future scenarios.

42. Role-Playing in Ethical Training
• Role-playing helps healthcare professionals
practice handling ethical dilemmas effectively.

43. Role-Playing Scenario Example
• Medical staff practice ethical decision-making
during an emergency drill.

44. Recap: Professionalism and Ethics
• Professionalism and ethics are the foundation
of trust and quality care in medicine.

45. Call to Action
• Commit to continuous learning, reflection,
and adherence to ethical principles in every
aspect of medical practice.

46. Q&A
• Open the floor for any questions or further
discussions.