“The Code of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association” Frank A. Riddick, Jr, MD

Excerpt:

The following #Principles adopted by the American #Medical Association are not laws, but standards of #conduct which define the essentials of honorable behavior for the physician.

I. A #physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical service with compassion and respect for human dignity.

II. A physician shall deal honestly with #patients and colleagues, and strive to expose those physicians deficient in character or competence, or who engage in fraud or deception.

III. A physician shall respect the law and also recognize a responsibility to seek changes in those requirements which are contrary to the best interests of the patient.

IV. A physician shall respect the rights of patients, #colleagues, and of other #health professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences within the constraints of the law.

V. A physician shall continue to study, apply and advance scientific knowledge, make relevant information available to patients, #colleagues, and the #public, obtain consultation, and use the talents of other health professionals when indicated.

VI. A physician shall, in the provision of appropriate patient care, except in #emergencies, be free to choose whom to serve, with whom to associate, and the environment in which to provide medical services.

VIII. A physician shall recognize a #responsibility to participate in activities contributing to an improved #community.

“The Code of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association” Frank A. Riddick, Jr, MD

#Medical professionals and #emergency responders have sworn to an oath.

What does #BlackLivesMatter have to do with those professional #CodeOfEthics? It has everything to do with it.

They are the front line workforce that responds to #health matters that looks beyond biases and addresses #BestKnownPractice of health emergency response.

Care prioritization is supposed to be about critical assessment. The most critical patients take priority and it is not supposed to be about the color of their skin or the socio-economic classification.

Medical professionals are experiencing severe moral injury. As we posture about our freedom and liberty, while we make this about the bottom line–it creates a moral injury for the medical professionals and experts that have sworn to uphold specific tenets for their roles.