BrazJOtorhinolaryngol.2017;83(2):119
www.bjorl.org
Brazilian
Journal
of
OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY
EDITORIAL
Ethics
in
the
twenty
first
century
otolaryngology
夽
Ética
na
otorrinolaringologia
do
século
XXI
IntheUnitedStates,theclimateofthepracticeofMedicine isintransitionandundersiegebypolicyrevisionistsand gov-ernmental/politicalopportunists.Regulatoryandlegislative hubrishasenshroudedthemedicalarenathroughformulaic dictums andonerous regulations ofttimesconstructed by individualswhohavenoclinicalexperienceorknowledge. TheartofMedicineisbeingdismantledbyemphasison out-comesbasedsolelyonstatisticalevidence,withnoconcern forthehumanvariables.Objectiveanalysisisnotinherently bad providedthepersonal and socialfactors areproperly emphasizedintheanalysis.Freedomtomakeclinical deci-sionsMUSTbepreservedforoptimalcare.
Thisphenomenonexertsunduepressureontheclinician leadingto professionalfrustration andanemia of job sat-isfaction.Also,theenvironmentwhichenablesthebestof careisfurtherchallengedandcompromised.
Never the less, we, as physicians, must continue to acknowledgeourcallingandrespondtothegiftsofour pro-fession.It seems appropriateto review the commitments that we have made to ourselves and our patients. Over the years, I have created a wish list concerning the way Iwanttoconductmyselftosatisfymyprofessionalgoals. Whatfollowsarethosewishes. Istronglyrecommendthat allpracticingphysiciansconsidersuchalist,andreviewit occasionally.
1. Iwishfor thejudgement toknow what isbest for my patientsandtoweighthemeritsofinterventions; surgi-cally,medically,andradiotherapeutically.
夽 Pleasecitethisarticleas:CummingsCW.Ethicsinthetwenty firstcenturyotolaryngology.BrazJOtorhinolaryngol.2017;83:119.
2. IwishthatIcanmasterthecomplexitiesofthepractice ofmedicineandbeworthwhileasaphysician.
3. Iwishforthehonestyandintegritytoobjectivelyassess mycompetenciesandfallibilities.
4. Iwishfortheintellectualdrivetomaintaincurrencyof knowledge.
5. Iwishforthewisdomtoassessandmaintainappropriate costsformedicalcare.
6. Iwishfortheintegritytoavoidmarketingmyskillsand accomplishmentsunrealisticallyanderroneously. 7. Iwishforthecompassionthatallowsmetoseparatemy
personalproblemsfromtheneedsofthepatientsthatI serve.
8. Iwishforthecouragetochallengethewisdomofthose thatcreatepoliciesandregulationsthatfailtoconsider thefulldimensionandscopeofmedicalcare.
PleasepreservetheartofMedicine.Wemuststewardour wonderfulcalling.
Conflicts
of
interest
Theauthordeclaresnoconflictsofinterest.
CharlesW.Cummings
JohnsHopkinsUniversity,Baltimore,USA
E-mail:ccumming@jhmi.edu
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjorl.2017.01.001
