Ethics, Professionalism, and Cultural Competency
Knowledge, skills, clinical reasoning, and informed decision making while crucial to a physician's practice
of medicine, are insufficient to guarantee successful clinical interactions. A physician must have a sound
understanding of medical ethics, medical professionalism, and cultural competency. These three
components of this module each have unique challenges within pediatrics. See reading list on website for
additional reading for this module.
Ethics
Competencies
1.
Describe the practical applications of the major ethical principles (i.e. justice, beneficence, nonmalfeasance, and respect for autonomy).
2.
Understand situations in pediatric practice when beneficence replaces autonomy as a guiding
ethical principle.
3.
Recognize that children can not weigh benefits and risks, compare treatment alternatives, or know
the implications of their medical decisions.
4.
Understand that confidentiality and truth telling may apply differently according to a patient’s age,
development, and legal status.
5.
Identify who should and who is qualified to make decisions for a child in different settings.
6.
Recognize situations in which advancing the interest of the patient may conflict with a physician’s
interest or moral beliefs, or the interest of a third party such as the hospital or insurers.
7.
Recognize the value of using professional and institutional interdisciplinary ethics committees for
resolving dilemmas.
Professionalism
Competencies
1.
Define medical professionalism.
2.
Evaluate yourself based upon the 8 components of professionalism as described by the AAP.
3.
Identify and explore your own personal strengths, weaknesses, and goals in general and within
specific patient encounters.
4.
Describe the characteristics of the impaired colleagues and your duties regarding reporting
concerning behaviors.
5.
Describe a pediatrician’s role and responsibility in advocating for the needs of patients on an
individual and societal level.
Clinical Practice: Practice a positive attitude and regard for education by demonstrating
intellectual curiosity, initiative, honesty, flexibility responsibility, preparation, and maturity in
soliciting, accepting and acting on feedback.
Cultural Competency
Competencies
1.
Define cultural competency and understand its importance in the health care setting.
2.
Understand why cultural clashes exist and strategies to help prevent these situations.
3.
Demonstrate behaviors that respect the patient’s modesty, privacy, and confidentiality.
4.
Demonstrate awareness of your own social/cultural heritage and its impact on your experience of
health, illness, and the practice of medicine.
5.
Understand the need for continual self evaluation and self critique as it relates to caring for
culturally diverse patients and families.
Clinical Practice
1. Communicate effectively with patients and families from diverse cultural backgrounds.
2. Practice an interview on a non-English speaking patient through an interpreter.