Medical Professionalism Charter Principles | ABIM Foundation

Medical Professionalism Charter Principles | ABIM Foundation:

Principles of the Charter

The principles and responsibilities of medical professionalism must be clearly understood by both the profession and society. The three fundamental principles below are a guide to understanding physicians’ professional responsibilities to individual patients and society as a whole. 1. Primacy of Patient Welfare 2. Patient Autonomy 3.Social Justice

Primacy of Patient Welfare
The principle is based on a dedication to serving the interest of the patient. Altruism contributes to the trust that is central to the physician-patient relationship. Market forces, societal pressures, and administrative exigencies must not compromise this principle.

Patient Autonomy
Physicians must have respect for patient autonomy. Physicians must be honest with their patients and empower them to make informed decisions about their treatment. Patients’ decisions about their care must be paramount, as long as those decisions are in keeping with ethical practice and do not lead to demands for inappropriate care.

Social Justice
The medical profession must promote justice in the health care system, including the fair distribution of health care resources. Physicians should work actively to eliminate discrimination in health care, whether based on race, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, religion, or any other social category.

We talk a lot about professional responsibilities within the medical profession. I think the first two principles of patient welfare and autonomy are uncontroversial (though not always easy!).

The last one, social justice, is just as critical, and I would argue largely uncontroversial around the world both within the medical profession and in societies as a whole. Only in America is this principle questioned, and only in a vocal and politically powerful segment of the population.

I think many physicians, especially our conservative fellow physicians, would be surprised (and disappointed) that every major medical organization in the US (and globally), and almost certainly their own specialty organization, have already endorsed the Charter, warts - social justice in their view - and all!

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