title: Medical ethics: a rational approach to patient management.
abstract: Physicians make their decisions based upon scientific evidence with their first consideration being the Hippocratic axiom 'not to do harm'. In practice, a number of non-medical issues influence this process and generate conflicting judgments. We analyze these issues that form the context of medical ethics which is perceived as a subject wider than morality. It is also a religious, social, political, economic, legal and cultural issue. Therefore, the patient, physician and other professionals play important roles in the decision-making. The final decision is not a decision based on medical textbooks, but is rational in that it is based on reason for the benefit of the individual.
authors.affiliation: A&L Medical Supplies Ltd, Athens, Greece. livadas@hol.gr
authors.forename: Gerry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Livadas
mesh_terms: D003469:Culture; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D009014:Morals; D010358:Patient Participation; D028701:Patient Rights; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012067:Religion; D012945:Social Values