Doctor-patient relationship
Doctor-patient relationship
The Doctor-patient relationship (pronunciation: /ˈdɒktər peɪʃənt rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp/) is a central part of health care and the practice of medicine. The doctor-patient relationship forms one of the foundations of contemporary medical ethics.
Etymology
The term "Doctor-patient relationship" is somewhat self-explanatory. It refers to the relationship that exists between a patient and a doctor, used in the context of healthcare. "Doctor" is derived from the Latin word 'docere' which means 'to teach'. "Patient" comes from the Latin word 'patiens', the present participle of the verb 'patior' meaning 'to suffer'. This term thus reflects the traditional view that the doctor has the role of instructing and the patient has the role of following instructions.
Definition
The Doctor-patient relationship is traditionally characterized by a special combination of trust, ethics, and power. The patient trusts the doctor with their health and, in return, the doctor is tasked with maintaining confidentiality and acting in the best interest of the patient.
Related Terms
- Informed consent: This is a process for getting permission before conducting a healthcare intervention on a person. It originates from the legal and ethical right the patient has to direct what happens to their body and from the ethical duty of the physician to involve the patient in their healthcare.
- Patient autonomy: This is the right of patients to make decisions about their medical care without their healthcare provider trying to influence the decision. Patient autonomy does allow for health care providers to educate the patient but does not allow the health care provider to make the decision for the patient.
- Medical confidentiality: This is a set of rules that limits access to information discussed between the patient and the doctor in the course of providing medical care.
- Medical ethics: This is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of medicine.
- Health care: This is the maintenance or improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, recovery, or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Doctor-patient relationship
- Wikipedia's article - Doctor-patient relationship
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