Manners, Morals, and Medical Care

Book excerpt: This book is a unique reference for medical students, residents, and allied healthcare workers who are just entering the medical field. It outlines in an anecdotal, yet pedagogical manner what one should expect and what is expected of an individual when embarking on a career at a clinic or hospital. Organized into two sections, the book defines in clear terms student responsibilities, expectations, and appropriate collegial interactions through the implementation of historical, moral, and ethical narrative techniques. Chapters discuss the justification of “medical professionalism” as defined in medical school core curriculum, and how and why such ideological norms exist. The book employs clinical scenarios based on incidents chosen to illustrate appropriate behavioral guidelines. The book also addresses common but difficult interpersonal problems all practitioners deal with that require empathy including delivering bad news, working with families, sexual harassment, the importance of diversity, and burnout in the work place. Each chapter includes short biographies meant to give context of the integral role of medicine in the development of our modern complex diverse society. Comprehensive, socially conscious, and written in an engaging yet didactic narrative style, Manners, Morals, and Medical Care serves as an authentic source and a practical guide on the responsibilities of a practitioner when caring for patients.