title: [Medicine, ethics and money].
abstract: Since the end of the Middle Ages, physicians have been paid in different ways for the care they give. This payment must respect the ethical principles of equity, autonomy and benevolence-beneficence. Equity requires that everybody be treated according to his needs and not according to his means, the necessary means being offered by physicians or provided by society. Autonomy requires that the physician be independent so that no other consideration--including his own material interest--takes precedent over the patient's interests. Benevolence-beneficence places the emphasis on means, in accordance with evidence-based medicine, results being impossible to guarantee.
authors.affiliation: Institut Bergonié, 229, cours de l'Argonne, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoerni
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avril
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D026686:Beneficence; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005251:Fees, Medical / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017009:Professional Autonomy