J Med Assoc Thai 2007; 90 (1):201

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The Idealistic Ethical Doctor
Phaosavasdi S Mail, Thaneepanichskul S , Tannirandorn Y , Pupong V , Uerpairojkit B , Pruksapongs C , Kajanapitak A

          Physicians are either in the royal service or private section. They are taught to have strong self-confidence, depending on their own thoughts, making decision and performing their sole duties, especially when they are on duty. During their non-official time, the patients’ problems may be simple, but most of them are severe and complicated, and still exist even when they are off duty. It is difficult for the off duty doctor to leave the suffering patient. They must keep performing their services. It looks like they are working overtime. By surrendering to such an extraordinary service, they will be admired as a “devotee”. It makes for a good feeling for the doctors. However, by the same token, if any mistake happens, the doctor will be accused, sued, and sentenced to jail by a court as a criminal person and against Act Number 41 of the National Health Plan 30 Baht bill. Present day doctors are fully aware of their idealistic ethical status through the transitional zone of the rapid change of the cultural milieu of Thai society.
          The world is round with some angulations and valleys to form shelter, protecting from heat, cold, flood, and tsunami, etc. The differentiated lines of right and wrong of the duties of doctors are closed to each other. And the doctor’s duties seem to be a thunderstorm catcher. The physician’s professionalism is abuse politically by the society and its rulers. It is hard to believe that the doctors cannot ask for help, and at the same time, these is some one among them tries to irritate them the most. These are other factors that are part of the idealistic, ethical doctor of the appropriate present situation.
          Fifteen medical schools in Thailand understand well the mentioned appropriation. It does not stand for “too much” or “lack of”. The medical graduates should learn its meaning best to insure their professional life and family.
          It is the talk of the town that etiquette is defined as “they must do good things and avoid all bad things”. The sentence is short and understandable; but with huge meaning, as big as the sky and, as deep as the sea. Doctors’ etiquette has a high standard. This is another social request for the appropriate physician’s professionalism.
          There are many changes in Thai trans cultural. Thais must live and have good relations with others. Thai wealthy must be strong in order to obtain necessary import living needs and pay for their study in research and development. Physicians are included in this circle. The physicians have to provide services to their patients who will ask for everything that is life saving, advertised in all media. Ethics, mores, culture are our basics for marketing, but they must be clean, and accountable, as they are standard requirements for good friends. The 6 basic principles of ethics: human rights, justice, truth telling, confidentiality, good performance, deleting bad events; they are considered to be an insurance for a physician’s life. Good thoughts toward any one, gender-sex-religious-economic status, and age discrimination, are strictly eliminated. How can we find such an appropriate physician?

Keywords: Idealistic, Ethics, Physician


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