Smith D H, McCarty K
Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa.
Prim Care. 1992 Dec;19(4):821-33.
Nearly all the topics considered by medical ethics generally present themselves to those caring for cancer patients. Although most attention may be given to questions of resource allocation and limiting treatment, other issues are of equal importance. Providing respect and compassion for patients may be even more important. The day-to-day treatment of the patient that recognizes the practical autonomy of the patient and legitimizes the patient's involvement in deciding about his or her own care may do more to preserve the integrity of the patient as a person than anything else that happens to someone who accepts the cancer diagnosis. The physician who can accept the patient's judgment and participation and who can help the patient find positive meaning in what can be a personally and socially devastating disease experience has enacted a highly laudatory ethical standard of patient care.
医学伦理学所考虑的几乎所有主题通常都会摆在照顾癌症患者的人面前。尽管大部分注意力可能集中在资源分配和限制治疗的问题上，但其他问题同样重要。给予患者尊重和同情可能更为重要。在日常治疗中认可患者的实际自主权，并使患者参与决定自己的治疗方案，这对于维护患者作为一个人的完整性所起的作用，可能比接受癌症诊断的患者所经历的其他任何事情都要大。能够接受患者的判断和参与，并能帮助患者在这种可能对个人和社会都具有毁灭性的疾病经历中找到积极意义的医生，践行了一种备受赞誉的患者护理伦理标准。
