Chapter 6: Physician Professionalism and Preparing for Epidemics: Challenges and Opportunities

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Advances in Bioethics

ISSN: 1479-3709
Series editor(s): Dr Wayne Shelton

Subject Area: Health Care Management/Healthcare

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Document Information:
Title:	Chapter 6: Physician Professionalism and Preparing for Epidemics: Challenges and Opportunities
Author(s):	Matthew K. Wynia, Jacob F. Kurlander, Shane K. Green
Volume:	9 Editor(s): John Balint, Sean Philpott, Robert Baker, Martin Strosberg ISBN: 978-0-76231-311-2 eISBN: 978-1-84950-412-6
Citation:	Matthew K. Wynia, Jacob F. Kurlander, Shane K. Green (2006), Chapter 6: Physician Professionalism and Preparing for Epidemics: Challenges and Opportunities, in John Balint, Sean Philpott, Robert Baker, Martin Strosberg (ed.) Ethics and Epidemics (Advances in Bioethics, Volume 9), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.135-161
DOI:	10.1016/S1479-3709(06)09006-6 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Article type:	Chapter Item
Abstract:	Physicians are instrumental to our national defense against epidemics, whether natural or bioterror-related. Broadly speaking, they are obligated to help rapidly identify threats, prevent the spread of disease, and care for infected patients. Each task presents ethical challenges, including the need to address access to care, balance the medical needs of individuals and communities, and ensure that health professionals continue to treat infectious patients in spite of the risk they present. If physicians can acknowledge these duties and meet these challenges, they have an opportunity to strengthen medicine's public trust and professional identity.