Critical Analysis Article

Statement of Purpose

I have decided that my Position Paper will address the conflict between the personal morals/ethics of medical practitioners and the professional obligations imposed on them when they choose a career in the medical field. According to F.J. Gianola, “the question here is how, when, or whether professional obligation takes precedent” over personal and moral obligations. I plan to discuss the current obligations of medical practitioners and the ethics of those practitioners. I am going to research how and when the conflict most commonly arises as well as the accepted way of dealing with the conflict. Dr. Farr A. Curlin and his colleagues performed a survey to discover the general opinion of physicians regarding whether a medical professional’s refusal of a patient’s request is justified, when that request conflicts with the professional’s personal beliefs. In Curlin’s study, the results revealed “ [. . . ] most physicians believe that it is ethically permissible for doctors to explain their moral objections to patients (63%)” and 86% believe that along with a practitioner’s refusal should come a referral to all other possible options (Curlin). In his article about the legal rights of medical practitioners, Randolph W. Pates discusses the three laws the Bush and Clinton Administrations enacted to protect physicians from discrimination when, based on the physicians’ morals, they object to a procedure or prescription of a medication. However, since 2009 the Obama Administration has been looking to overturn these rights so that patients won’t be denied their desired procedures or prescriptions (Pates). I will research further ways the legal system deals with the rights of practicing medical professionals in following their personal consciences. To narrow my research, I will specifically look at how this dilemma directly affects physician assistants (PAs). Because of PAs’ dependence on physicians while practicing, I will discuss how the conflict of personal ethics and professional requirements may be an even broader, more prominent problem on an everyday basis for physician assistants than for physicians. I will then suggest a possible policy to implement so that physician assistants have the ability to seek or a resource to turn to for a second opinion about what is being requested of them. Comment by [email protected]: FIRST CITED SOURCE Comment by [email protected]: #2—STATEMENT OF PURPOSE Comment by [email protected]: SECOND CITED SOURCE Comment by [email protected]: THIRD CITED SOURCE Comment by [email protected]: #2—STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

BEST TO NAME AUDIENCE IN ABOVE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE SECTION.

Explanation of Interest

My interest in this topic is greatly influenced by my desire to become a physician assistant in the future. The struggle of a physician assistant, or any medical professional, is in coping with such a stressful conflict between personal morals and professional obligations—a conflict I possibly will face in the future—intrigues me. I am curious as to how these professionals have approached and dealt with this conflict, and what professionals consider as an appropriate way to do so, as well as whether denying patients their requests is considered justified when that request does not follow the professional’s own personal morals. Comment by [email protected]: #3—EXPLANATION OF WRITER’S INTEREST IN TOPIC

Significance of Topic/Research

This topic is significant, not only because the conflict between ethics and professional obligations is a long-standing issue, but also because the complexities of today’s medicine and medical field have helped to make the conflict more prevalent. Additionally, a procedure or medication that may seem morally wrong to one person may seem completely acceptable and appropriate to another. Because of such variance, medical practitioners must be educated in how to approach and deal with such situations where such conflicts of authority arise. Comment by [email protected]: #4—HOW/WHY TOPIC IS SIGNIFICANT

The physician assistant position is growing in population across the country because of the increased need for medical professionals to tend to the needs of the aging American population. In March of 2012, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the number of physician assistants in the United States will raise thirty percent from 2010 to 2020, raising the number employed from 86,300 to 108, 300 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Therefore, the conflict between personal morals and professional obligations will be affecting even more people in and outside of this profession. Because of these factors, I feel those in the physician assistant field will be interested to read my discussion of the conflict between ethics and professional requirements, as well as possible measures to put in place to ease the tension between the two. Comment by [email protected]: #4—HOW/WHY TOPIC IS SIGNIFICANT Comment by [email protected]: FOURTH CITED SOURCE

Five Questions Research Hopes to Answer Comment by Faculty/Staff/Student: List of 5 questions

1. Does a professional code of ethics specifically for Physician Assistants (PAs) exist?

2. What factors—medical and non-medical—have given rise to the development of PA as a professional category?

3. What is the general attitude of physicians to the authority of PAs?

4. What is the general attitude of patients to the authority of PAs?

5. What is the general attitude of PAs to their attending physicians?

Research

To gather the necessary information for my research paper, I will reference a variety of sources. I will most likely use the Internet, especially search engines that lead me to scholarly articles and journals such as Google Scholar and Ebsco Host, the latter of which is directly connected to the Roesch Library’s catalog. I will also go to the library to take out books dealing with my topic. I may even visit the research help center in the Library if I encounter trouble in searching my topic on the Internet or finding certain books that directly pertain to my topic. Comment by [email protected]: #6—KIND OF RESEARCH TO BE CONDUCTED AND METHODS USED.

Because illness and wounds are a common fact of life, the medical field is a career path that will always exist and will remain a significant part of the lives of most people, whether patients or the physicians. Making sure those in the medical profession enjoy what they do, while also feeling some freedom to express or exercise their personal morals or sense of ethics, continues to be important on several levels. Medical professionals, and specifically physician assistants, need to know they are heard and accepted both as individuals and as members of medical teams, while practicing medicine. Without this level of comfort in being their own persons, many people who once wished to work in medicine may possibly choose another, more accepting career. Comment by [email protected]: AUDIENCE FOR PAPER

Works Cited Comment by Faculty/Staff/Student: Works Cited section

NOTE: THIS PAPER WAS WRITTEN BEFORE MLA MODIFIED ITS STYLE IN SUMMER OF 2016

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Physician Assistants, Web. 11 Oct. 2012.

Curlin, Fred A., Robert E. Lawrence, Mai Chin, and John Lantos. “Religion, Conscience, and Controversial Clinical Practices” The New England Journal of Medicine. (2007): n. pag. Web. 11 Oct. 2012.

Gianola, F.J. “The physician assistant’s professional obligations and the values of faith.” Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (2008): 52-54. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. Comment by Faculty/Staff/Student: Full first name needed Comment by Faculty/Staff/Student: Use standard rules of capitalization

Pate, Randolph W. “Protection of Health Care Providers' Right of Conscience: What Federal Law Says” 2009. The Heritage Foundation. Web. 11 Oct. 2012.