RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The ethically trained physician: myth or reality?
JF Canadian Medical Association Journal
JO CMAJ
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 682
OP 684
VO 128
IS 6
A1 G. K. Balkos
YR 1983
UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/128/6/682.abstract
AB Through a questionnaire distributed to 300 physicians in the Toronto area, three aspects of their ethical awareness were examined: the formal codes, the need for consultation in making decisions and the need for training in medical ethics. Most of the physicians (81%) felt that they were facing ethical problems in their daily practice. A majority of these would try to solve the problems either themselves (30%) or through discussion with a colleague (43%). When they turned outside the profession it was sometimes to a lawyer (12%), which suggests concern with the legalities of some situations. Only a small proportion of the respondents were found to be familiar with two of the established codes of ethics, yet 13% would still turn to the code of the Canadian Medical Association for guidance. Finally, there was widespread recognition of the need for proper training in medical ethics and for the establishment of a specialty in this field.