10 PDA POINTS-$80
This course covers the fundamental guidelines of medical ethics and the issues that you may encounter in your acupuncture practice. This course will teach you how to apply logical reasoning skills, ethical theories and ideas, addressed gray areas in medicine, and decision making when encountering ethically charged situations. This course will cover the most up to date information including professionalism with social media, religion, politics and content for the new millenia. This course looks at the difference between ethics and law, rights and responsibilities, and guidelines on how to deal with patients in the most professional and responsible way in your practice. We will also cover the NCCAOM Code of Ethics.
*Once purchased, please click on the first lesson title to begin the course.
Lessons
What are Medical Ethics?
Medical Ethics and Patient Care
Medical Ethics and Patient Care As an Acupuncturist you want to have compassion for your patient’s needs and be trusted as their provider for acupuncture and holistic health. Building relationships is one of the most important aspects of being an acupuncturist. Really, the medical ethics guidelines allow you to become a better provider because it […]
The Hippocratic Oath
The Hippocratic Oath The Hippocratic Oath is typically in medical discussions regarding medical ethics. It is a list of statutes originating around 400 BCE in Ancient Greece. It refers to the ethical behavior of a physician and addresses the physician’s behavior and the doctor-patient relationship. The Hippocratic Oath may be the oldest known statute but […]
AMA Code of Ethics
AMA Code of Ethics The American Medical Association has a quite a substantial code of medical ethics whose purpose is to allow the practicing physician to self-regulate. Ethical teachers have recommended that when you find yourself in a sticky situation, it is important to ask yourself some questions: How would I want a family member […]
NCCAOM Code of Ethics
NCCAOM Code of Ethics NCCAOM is the governing body for Acupuncture and they have their own Code of Ethics which states the following: As a Diplomate of NCCAOM I hereby pledge my commitment to the following principles: Respect the rights, privacy and dignity of my patients and maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries at all times. […]
ANA Code
ANA Code It is important to note that the ANA (American Nursing Association) also must follow the same guidelines in their revised Code of Ethics from 1995. The nine provisions of the ANA code state the following: Respect for human dignity as expressed through autonomy Commitment to the patient by setting boundaries and collaborating with […]
Ethical Panels
Ethical Panels Interestingly, most hospitals have an ethics panel which is composed of doctors, nurses and other providers who are called upon when there is an ethical dilemma with a patient. The decision of the ethics committee can help assist a family who has a family member on life support or a doctor on decisions […]
Patient Bill of Rights
Patient Bill of Rights In clinical settings included in the code of ethics is the treatment and care that a patient can expect to receive. The official Patient Bill of Rights was adopted in 1995, which follows these basic principles: To choose a physician freely This is very important for those who are selling punch […]
Provider Patient Relationship
Provider Patient Relationship Practitioners and patients must have a good relationship for the best possible care and outcome. You hear some patients say ‘I love my doctor.’ This is typically because the doctor is kind, caring and compassionate as well as provides good treatment and care. A good relationship is also based on mutual trust, […]
Confidentiality and Social Media
Confidentiality and Social Media In today’s age of social media, care must be taken when blogging and posting on sites like twitter, facebook and Instagram, remembering that people’s bodies and faces are not allowed to be posted unless you have been given express written consent. There should be a ‘photography consent release form’ signed that […]
Ethical Communications
Ethical Communications Clear communication with your patient is the best way to have a positive outcome. It is also important to ask the patient pertinent questions to be able to understand the health issue, make the proper diagnosis and treat the patient properly. The key is to listen carefully, think before you speak and communicate […]
Informed Consent
Informed Consent Part of having ethical communications is informed consent. A good informed consent agreement will lay out the treatment, potential side effects, cost, and what the patient can expect. This form is central for trust and understanding between the Acupuncturist and the patient. You as the provider are also responsible for telling the patient […]
Conflict of Interest
Conflict of Interest Good medical practices rely on minimizing conflicts of interest. A medical provider should be making decisions based on the patient’s best interest and not on a kickback. For example if an orthopedist orders an MRI because he receives a kickback, this is a conflict of interest and not in the patient’s best […]
Politics and Religion
Politics and Religion While talking about conflicts of interest it is a great time to discuss politics and religion in the clinical setting. Although there is no ethical violation against such discussions, such a discussion could lead to an ethical violation. People get very serious regarding these two subjects so it is best to have […]
Appropriate Referrals
Appropriate Referrals Whether you are referring a patient to another physician or seeing a patient that has been referred to you, there are some general rules to follow. Patient autonomy and beneficence are the ethical guidelines in this situation. The patient always has his own right to choose a doctor and doctors must consider the […]
Refusal of Treatment
Refusal of Treatment Doctors do have some choices as to who they want to treat, but practitioners must not discriminate. Doctors will encounter patients that they do not like, who smell bad, who smoke cigarettes, who are obese, abuse drugs and are careless with their lives. There are certain guidelines that must be followed: A […]
Patient’s Rights and Obligations
Patient’s Rights and Obligations Autonomy While doctors have certain rights and obligations, patients also have obligations. Patients have a basic right of autonomy but before they can be considered autonomous, certain conditions must be met: The patient must have the ability to reason Have power and legal control over her life Have the ability to […]
Running an Ethical Practice
Running an Ethical Practice Ethical issues today include safety and confidentiality when communicating with third parties, and keeping medical information private Medical Records The practice of medicine is based on complete and accurate medical records. Running an ethical practice means that you try your best to follow all four ethical principles. As a reminder, those […]
Medical Records Release
Medical Records Release A medical records release form with the patient’s information, permission and signature is vital before releasing any medical records to another practitioner, or a family member. Accuracy about where this medical record is being sent is important because if there is a mistake made this is a breach of confidentiality. In addition, […]
Errors in Medicine
Errors in Medicine Medical errors occur in medicine. In fact, the AMA estimates that approximately 98,000 patients die every year due to medical errors. Yikes! However, not all errors are lethal and the chance of this occurring in an Acupuncture clinic is slim, but things still happen. In medicine, we follow the first do no […]
Spirituality, Religion, and Ethics
Spirituality, Religion, and Ethics Ethics and religion can overlap in many ways. The principle of not doing harm, doing the right thing and promotion justice should go hand in hand for both, yet sometimes religion can be conflictive with medicine. Some religions even limit or ban healthcare options. This therefore can bring about a conflict […]
Refusal of Care
Refusal of Care Patients do have the right to refuse treatment. If working in an Acupuncture clinic this will be less of an issue as patients are coming to see you specifically for acupuncture. But what if they have refused Western medical care for cancer but have chosen to receive acupuncture instead? This then becomes […]