What could be more expensive in this world than human life? Abstracting from religious teachings, in the earthly world life is the only value that cannot be returned in any way, therefore it is rightfully considered priceless. That is why the people who are responsible for its preservation of our lives have such a huge burden of responsibility that no other profession is experiencing. It is, of course, about doctors.
A doctor’s mistake can cost one, and sometimes several people’s lives, and this is not only a professional skill of a specialist, but also the ethical side of the issue. During treatment, the person is the most weak and unprotected. He completely trusts his life to the doctor, revealing his body and his soul to him. In order that the doctor could not take advantage of this advantage for selfish purposes, always working for the benefit of the patient, a special science, deontology in medicine, monitors.
For the first time, the term deontology in medicine was used only in the century before last, however, the moral aspects of the doctor’s work were discussed even in the most ancient times. Obtaining the right to treat patients, the doctor had to take the oath, and violation of the code of ethics always led to the doctor’s responsibility before the law. Of course, moral standards have changed somewhat over the millennia of the existence of human civilization, however, the main principles on which ethics and deontology in medicine are based: the sacred life of the patient and the inadmissibility of using his weakness, remained unbreakable.
In principle, all ethical issues can be divided into two groups. The first group defines the doctor responsibly for the life of the patient. Deontology in medicine indicates that the doctor should always fight to save a person, even if it goes against his personal interests. The doctor should be ready at any time to come to the rescue and fulfill his professional duty, doing everything in his power.
Only the question of the struggle for the life of a hopelessly sick patient remains controversial. Different thinkers held different points of view in this regard. If we consider life as an absolute good, then we must fight even when a person can survive, only remaining deeply disabled, having endured terrifying torment. On the other hand, a person should have the right to a quiet death. And if there is no chance of a normal existence with a working brain, then a person needs to be allowed to calmly leave. One way or another, we cannot know the correct answer for sure, which means that the doctor has to solve a complex ethical problem over and over again.
The ethics and deontology of the medical worker, which determines his personal relations with the patient, are no more simple. According to strict ethical laws, the doctor has no right to have any personal relations with the patient, even some time after treatment. This is considered a “dishonest game”, because the patient, especially those in a difficult emotional or physical condition, is very open to suggestion. However, there are also frequent cases when a real spiritual connection is established between the patient and the doctor, and then moral and ethical standards are perceived as a barrier preventing two people loving each other from being together.
As you can see, deontology in medicine is a difficult science, but extremely necessary. The peculiarity of the doctor’s work leaves its mark on his whole life. A number of strict restrictions and requirements sometimes require a doctor, who is an ordinary person, to truly impossible. But fortunately, there are still people who are ready to sacrifice for the sake of our beloved profession, for the sake of our sincere desire to save human lives. And each of us in the most difficult moment would like to entrust our fate to the hands of such a worthy person!
