Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception of Medical Ethics among Medical Practitioners: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Medical ethics is a system of moral principles that gives value to health professionals who practice medicine and guide them in scientific research. It comprises a set of four principles: respect for Autonomy, Nonmaleficence, Beneficence, and Justice, which form a basic foundation for all. It also helps in the professional conduct of behavior and guides them when facing ethical dilemmas. This study assessed the attitude of medical practitioners towards medical ethics.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was prepared regarding medical ethics, such as the role of consent, confidentiality, ethical conduct, and the importance of documentation. This questionnaire is distributed through Google Forms and analyzed using the percentage proportion scale.

Results: In our study, 99 % of the participants agreed that the patients' opinions on the treatment must be respected. About 87 % of the study participants disagreed that confidentiality is not a necessary aspect of treatment. 79 % of the practitioners agreed that doctors should do their best for patients irrespective of patient's opinions.

Conclusion: The results of this study revealed medical practitioners' understanding of practical facets of medical ethics throughout their standard practice at the workplace needs to be improved. The disparity in ethical perspectives among various levels of healthcare professionals may be overcome by implementing practical ethics education.