Toward a Reconstruction of Medical Morality

• Published in: American journal of bioethics Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 65 - 71
• Main Author: Pellegrino, Edmund D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 01.03.2006
• Subjects: Angelo E. Volandes and Elmer D. Abbo, p. 88; Bioethics; Cultural Diversity; Decision Making; Denise M. Dudzinski and Wylie Burke, p. 75; Dependency (Psychology); Empathy; Ethical Relativism; Ethics, Medical - education; Gail Geller, p. 82; Hippocratic Oath; Human Body; Humans; Informed Consent - ethics; Joel D. Howell, p. 80; Katherine Wasson and E. David Cook, p. 90; Loretta M. Kopelman, p. 85; Moral Obligations; Nuala Kenny, p. 78; Paternalism; Patient Participation; Patients - psychology; Personal Autonomy; Philosophy, Medical; Physician's Role; Physician-Patient Relations - ethics; Robert M. Veatch, p. 72; Rosamond Rhodes, p. 76; Sick Role; Social Responsibility
• ISSN: 1526-5161; 1536-0075
• DOI: 10.1080/15265160500508601

At the center of medical morality is the healing relationship. It is defined by three phenomena: the fact of illness, the act of profession, and the act of medicine. The first puts the patient in a vulnerable and dependent position; it results in an unequal relationship. The second implies a promise to help. The third involves those actions that will lead to a medically competent healing decision. But it must also be good for the patient in the fullest possible sense. The physician cannot fully heal without giving the patient an understanding of alternatives such that he or she can freely arrive-together with the physician-at a decision in keeping with his or her personal morality and values. In today's pluralistic society, universal agreement on moral issues between physicians and patients is no longer possible. Nevertheless, a reconstruction of professional ethics based on a new appreciation of what makes for a true healing relationship between patient and physician is both possible and necessary. * Originally published in The Journal of Medical Humanities, 8(1), Spring/Summer 1987. Reprinted with permission from Springer Science and Business Media.