What Do We Have to Know About Physicians’ Professional Medical Ethics

Teaching about medical ethics and deontology, included in curriculums of most important medical faculties in Europe and USA, has a long and successful tradition in Slovenia too. Con­sidering that we are living in the age of new technologies, globalization and expeditious development in every branch of knowledge, modern physician is continuously confronted with new professional challenges and ethical puzzles. Trying to solve ethical dilemmas, we are obliged to respect our professional ethical codes and basic ethical principles of medical profession such as beneficence, truthtelling, non-maleficence, patient’s autonomy, justice and confidentiality. Ethical problems arise above all when we are breaking some of these basic ethical rules from different reasons. Ethical problems are frequently overlooked. By perfor­ming good medical practice, keeping our medical knowledge up-to date and permanently considering valid legal regulations, we gain the powerful tools for solving ethical dilemmas and for our professional promotion at the same time. Confronted with more difficult ethi­cal problems, we are obliged to consult more experienced colleagues or professional and ethical boards.