Letter to editorial board on ethics
THONGCHAI CHULSIRIWONG, D.C.L. *
Affiliation : * Amnet international law clinic, 17th Floor, Rajapark building, 163 Asoke, Sukhumvit 21, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
I am honored to comment about your new
column on medical ethics and professionalism. I
can understand that, particularly in the present dif-
ficult economic environment, the Thai Medical
Association is concerned about maintaining the
respect and confidence of the Thai public. There
has been increasing commercialism among those
practicing medicine, something that seems to be a
worldwide trend. If the profession does not insure
that medicine is not seen as a "service business"
like dry cleaning or providing maintenance for
cars, doctors will loose the high regard in which
they have always been held in our country.
The plethora of private hospitals with
empty beds have created pressure on doctors to
fill them, do expensive procedures and help pay
off the huge debts that such hospitals have made.
The 1998 Declaration on patients' right,
which finally received from health care professional
organization approval and was cosigned on May 16,
1998 goes some way to rectify issues of improper
conduct. It enacts limited protection of patient's
rights and makes the hospital responsible for the
action of their doctors. Can it really be inforced?
An effort is also made to control the unrestricted
growth of expensive private medical facilities
throughout the country. It is rather sad that this
declaration was at all necessary. If the profession,
through the Medical Association and the Medical
Council, would have made more strenuous efforts
to control themselves, we would not r ed this law.
I would like to stress that he Medical
Association should play a greater rol•
n promoting
ethics, service to their fellow man ... 1d good pro-
fessional conduct. This must be taught to medical
students who are now only taught technical matters
with neglect of philosophy, sociology and ethics.
You are obviously intending to work towards this
goal and you have my best wishes for success in
this endeavor.
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