Health Care Personnel Ethics
Sukhit Phaosavadi MD*, Surasak Taneepanichskul MD*, Yuen Tannirandorn MD*, Vorapong Phupong MD*, Boonchai Uerpairojkit MD*, Chumsak Pruksapongs MD*, Aurchart Kajanapitak MD*
Affiliation : * Members of Medical Association of Thailand
Ethics has been considered as the most damaging issue in the Thai society for the past two to three
years as if the society is at an ill level of ethics. Therefore, we are all dragged towards a potential disaster. The
crisis takes out our social immunity and exposes us to being infected by this ugly and terrible disease(1-3) that
is a lack of ethics.
These feelings are from every part of the country. Furthermore, this vulnerable moment is emerging for
the first time as the change in Thai society is greatest. However, every one has kept silent, being afraid to raise
the issue as it may result in distrust by the society and even the family(4).
One of the factors of the social crisis is the repeated stimulation through all types of media that the
average citizen is being taken advantage of by the justice system, by a person, or a group. Active, diligent, hard
workers who strive for their life and family, and may not even earn enough money for food and shelter, are
subject to bias by those very same media(5). In these media, ethics has been intentionally abused and used as
a tremendous weapon to destroy one another.
The authors wish to give an example. Observing the television, moderators on most channels express
their sincere worry that the morality of the Thai society may be in decline. The expressions on their face and in
their eyes, their tone of speech, and the contents of their discussion come into our living-dining-bed rooms
without invitation. Should this kind of behavior be a good role model for our children?
In the present trans-cultural environment, the authors expect that future ethics code will change.
How can we maintain ethics that are about being grateful, honoring seniority, being humble, maintaining a
good spirit, maintaining tradition, providing donations, remaining united, having good rules and orders for
administration, etc?(3).
The authors’ ethics may be right, wrong, or even at an impasse. If the authors are doing anything
against the principles of ethics, it is clearly that the authors are wrong. If the authors are faced with a decision
to perform an abortion on a rape case, which is medically indicated and with legal permission, but is against
their religion and their belief in the principles of ethics, then the authors have an ethical dilemma(6). What
should be done?
Keywords : Ethics, Health care personnel
