Originally published January 6 2006
Survey of physicians reveals widespread concern about the unethical practices now common in the medical community
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A survey conducted by the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) revealed that most physicians are disturbed by unethical business practices in the medical community, including the practices of Big Pharma, which 76 percent of doctors expressed concern about.
Physician leaders in hospitals, large group practices and academic health centers are deeply concerned about ethical violations and unethical business practices impacting U.S. health care, according to results of a newly-published survey.
One of the most startling findings: nearly 54 percent of the survey respondents said there was a health care organization in their community that they believed to be involved in unethical business practices.
The survey findings and companion articles that look at ways to avoid ethical conflicts in health care are published in a special report, "Ethical Debates/Ethical Breaches," which appears in the March/April issue of The Physician Executive - Journal of Medical Management.
"The survey results show us a serious problem facing U.S. health care," ACPE President Marvin O. Kolb, MD, said.
"Our challenge at ACPE and other professional organizations is to teach health care leaders how to identify and eliminate unethical business practices and behaviors."
About 10 percent were CEOs or the equivalent; 29 percent, senior executives; 18 percent, medical directors of hospitals or group practices; 25 percent, department chairs; and 19 percent, practicing physicians or consultants.
"In general, physicians compartmentalize these [ethical] issues well and have the best interest of patients as their first priority," one survey participant wrote in the survey's comment box.
Laurence McCullough, PhD, is a professor of medicine and medical ethics and associate director for education in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
He currently teaches the ACPE course "Ethical Challenges of Physician Executives."
Donald Hofreuter, MD, is CEO of Wheeling Hospital, Wheeling, W.Va.
Dr. Hofreuter is an experienced physician leader and author of "The Higher Ground," which addresses ethical issues in health care.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml