Ethics for today – For physicians and the Canadian Paediatric Society

Abstract

The principles espoused in the Hippocratic Oath and passed down through generations of physicians over the millennia remain the core for the ethical behaviour of physicians today ( ). These traditional values have been expanded and clarified in the current day to cover the fundamental principles of medicine for physicians; especially, compassion, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and respect for persons and justice (Canadian Medical Association’s Code of Ethics ). Codes are not exhaustive and, by their nature, need to be interpreted in context. In this issue of Paediatrics & Child Health, articles address contemporary ethical issues around compassion and justice, such as obstacles to drugs access for children with inflammatory bowel disease discussed by Otley et al ( pages 87–88), and issues of respect for persons and confidentiality concerns in regards to the reporting of clinical cases discussed by Shevell ( pages 83–84). The article by Muirhead ( pages 85–86) highlights ethical issues that arise when parents and physicians disagree on management. Each of these articles deals with our ethical practice as a physician. In contrast, Moreau ( pages 81–82) reports on the development of the Code of Ethics for the Canadian Paediatric Society. This is not a code that outlines the principles for our behaviour as individual physicians caring for children and youth. This code moves us further along the ethical pathway by providing the ethical principles the Canadian Paediatric Society should use in making decisions, including those that involve policy.