Purtilo R B
Creighton University, Center for Health Policy and Ethics, Omaha, Nebraska 68178.
Ann Acad Med Singap. 1994 May;23(3):437-40.
Two major shifts in medicine are radically altering the medical profession worldwide: the shift from a professional to a business ethic, and the shift from a hands-one therapeutic approach to one which is technology-dependent. These paradigm shifts affect the traditional medical ethics and principles of professional autonomy, beneficence (doing what is best for patients) and justice. Constructive responses that will help to protect these important ethical ideals include reflection on professional values, involvement in health policy and nurture of the profession's young and "idealistic" members.
