The doctor-patient relationship

Abstract

This essay focuses on the doctor-patient relationship as a measure of ethical behavior by the physician. The perspective is derived from commitment as a religious humanist to the Judaic heritage, and experience in hospitals. The ethical responsibility to be competent professionally is presupposed. Emphasis is placed on the need of the physician to respect the autonomy of the patient as person, thus to limit the paternalism inherent in the physician's position, and to re-enforce this with compassion. Judaic sources supporting such conduct are cited. Exception is taken to decisions by civil and rabbinic judges which disregard the intimacy of the doctor-patient relationship.

KIE: Gordon, an emeritus professor of pediatrics, considers the ethical aspects of the physician patient relationship as perceived by a religious humanist committed to the Judaic heritage. Presupposing the physician's responsibility to be professionally competent, he identifies the major components of his or her ethical behavior to be respect for the patient's autonomy, limitation of paternalism, and compassion. Gordon cites Judaic sources for this ethic and deplores decisions by civil and rabbinic judges which conflict with these ethical imperatives.