Table 3 Attitude towards medical ethics
Attitude (n-313) | Strongly agree or agree | No opinion | Disagree or strongly disagree |
|---|---|---|---|
Ethical principles | |||
a. Doctors should make certain that their actions do not intentionally harm another even to a small degree. | 284 (90.7%) | 23 (7.3%) | 6 (1.9%) |
b. Doctors should never harm another person physically or psychologically | 278 (88.8%) | 18 (5.8%) | 17 (5.4%) |
c. Doctors should not perform an action which might in anyway threaten the dignity of another individual | 278 (88.8%) | 19 (6.1%) | 16 (5.1%) |
d. Doctors should treat patients as they would wish others to treat them if they were the patients | 253 (80.8%) | 41 (13.1%) | 19 (6.1%) |
e. Under no circumstance, a doctor has right to shout at a patient. | 218 (69.6%) | 25 (8%) | 70 (22.4%) |
f. An emotional or sexual relationship with a patient (or with a member of the patient’s family), even with consent, is unethical | 244 (78%) | 42 (13.4%) | 27 (8.6%) |
Ethics in practice | |||
a. At present the extent of ethical medical practice among doctors is satisfactory | 61 (19.5%) | 35 (11.2%) | 217 (69.3%) |
b. The quality of the service of doctor in the government hospital is negatively affected by his/her private practice | 118 (37.7%) | 57 (18.2%) | 138 (44.1%) |
c. Strikes done by doctors are indirectly beneficial to patients | 105 (33.5%) | 73 (23.3%) | 135 (43.1%) |
Training | |||
a. In my opinion, the extent of teaching on medical ethics in undergraduate curriculum is not adequate | 285 (91.1%) | 10 (3.2%) | 18 (5.7%) |
b. In-service training on medical ethics is a necessity for doctors | 298 (95.2%) | 7 (2.2%) | 8 (2.5%) |
Controversies | |||
a. Juniors tend to follow their consultants’ attitudes towards patient care | 248 (79.2%) | 14 (4.5%) | 51 (16.3%) |
b. Favouritism for students in medical exams is rare | 81 (25.9%) | 41 (13.1%) | 191 (61%) |
c. Abortion should be legalized in Sri Lanka | 148 (47.3%) | 61 (19.5%) | 104 (33.2%) |