Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Section I Information problems
- Section II End of life care
- Section III Pregnant women and children
- Section IV Genetics and biotechnology
- Section V Research ethics
- Section VI Health systems and institutions
- Section VII Using clinical ethics to make an impact in healthcare
- Section VIII Global health ethics
- Section IX Religious and cultural perspectives in bioethics
- Section X Specialty bioethics
- Introduction
- 56 Surgical ethics
- 57 Anesthesiology ethics
- 58 Critical and intensive care ethics
- 59 Emergency and trauma medicine ethics
- 60 Primary care ethics
- 61 Infectious diseases ethics
- 62 Psychiatric ethics
- 63 Neuroethics
- 64 Pharmacy ethics
- 65 Alternative and complementary care ethics
- Index
- References
60 - Primary care ethics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 October 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Section I Information problems
- Section II End of life care
- Section III Pregnant women and children
- Section IV Genetics and biotechnology
- Section V Research ethics
- Section VI Health systems and institutions
- Section VII Using clinical ethics to make an impact in healthcare
- Section VIII Global health ethics
- Section IX Religious and cultural perspectives in bioethics
- Section X Specialty bioethics
- Introduction
- 56 Surgical ethics
- 57 Anesthesiology ethics
- 58 Critical and intensive care ethics
- 59 Emergency and trauma medicine ethics
- 60 Primary care ethics
- 61 Infectious diseases ethics
- 62 Psychiatric ethics
- 63 Neuroethics
- 64 Pharmacy ethics
- 65 Alternative and complementary care ethics
- Index
- References
Summary
Ms. G is 17 years old and needs a physical examination prior to participating in high school sports. Her physician, Dr. M, has been the primary care clinician for Ms. G and her parents for the last 10 years. During Ms. G's last annual visit, Dr. M engaged her in a routine discussion about sex, birth control, abstinence, and safety. Ms. G asked questions but denied any sexual activity. Dr. M counseled Ms. G to continue the discussion with her mother. At today's clinic visit, Ms. G reports that she has been sexually active for a few months and would like to start birth control. Additionally, she is worried because her menstrual period is a little late and she complains of some abdominal discomfort and a vaginal discharge. Ms. G is adamant that Dr. M does not reveal her sexual activity to her parents.
Mr. H is 47 years old and has hypertension and high cholesterol, despite an active exercise regimen and healthy eating habits. He has a strong family history of hypertension. His mother had a stroke at age 57 and is disabled. Mr. H supports his mother as well as his wife and their three young children. He refuses to take medication, either for his blood pressure or for his elevated cholesterol. He mentions that he has “no faith in medications” and that his mother was taking appropriate medication when she had a stroke.
What is primary care ethics?
To understand the ethics of primary care, it is important to delineate the unique characteristics of primary care.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge Textbook of Bioethics , pp. 475 - 480Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008