Fundamental Ethical Issues in Patient Care

Ethics address conduct and relate to what behavior is appropriate or inappropriate, as reasonably determined by the entity setting the ethical standards. An issue of ethics in ophthalmology is resolved by the determination that the best interests of patients are served.

Ophthalmologists must act in the best interest of the patient and provide ophthalmologic services with compassion, respect for human dignity, honesty and integrity. Ophthalmologists should adhere to appropriate standards of ethics and professionalism in order to maintain the public’s trust in our profession.

In current medical practice, there are many impediments to practicing in a manner that engenders patient trust including: impairment, improper informed consent, distinguishing between research and patient care, appropriate postoperative management, potentially unnecessary procedures/tests, advertising and competition, conflicts of interest, and the emergence of new technologies. The ophthalmologist is not only expected to be clinically competent in the correct application of clinical knowledge and skills in solving the patient’s medical problem, but is also expected to apply that ability in a way that is cost-effective, efficient, ethical, and sensitive to the patient and to societal and professional imperatives.

The materials and information below are presented for user education and for the development of educational activities.

Specific Resources

• Educational Activities
• Presentation – General Overview
• Presentation – Case Study
• Objectives
• Code of Ethics – Patient Care
• Ethics Podcast - Informed Consent
• Ethics Podcast - Patient Requests to "Up-Code" Symptoms for Insurance Purposes
• Ethics Podcast - Appropriate Preoperative Assessment
• Ethics Podcast - Comanagement of the Postoperative Patient

Related Content

• Advisory Opinion – Appropriate Examination and Treatment Procedures
• Advisory Opinion – Delegated Services
• Advisory Opinion – Disclosure of Commercial Relationships and Interests
• Advisory Opinion - Employment and Referral Relationships between Ophthalmologists and Other Health Care Providers [86-1]
• Advisory Opinion – Ethical Obligations in Managed Health Care
• Advisory Opinion – Informed Consent
• Advisory Opinion – Postoperative Care
• Advisory Opinion – Release and Confidentiality of Patient Records
• Advisory Opinion - Research and Innovation in Clinical Practice 
• Advisory Opinion – Determining the Need for Medical or Surgical Intervention
• Policy Statement – An Ophthalmologist’s Duties Postoperative Care
• Policy Statement – Ophthalmic Care for Patients in Residential Care Centers
• Policy Statement - Pretreatment Assessment: Responsibilities of the Ophthalmologist
• Information Statement - Unique Competence of the Ophthalmologist
• Information Statement - The Ethical and Technical Competence of the Ophthalmologist
• Ask the Ethicist – FDA’s Panel’s LASIK Guidelines
• Ask the Ethicist – How to End the Physician-Patient Relationship
• Ask the Ethicist – Multifocal Lenses
• Ask the Ethicist – Off-Label Medications
• Ask the Ethicist – Social Networking
• Ask the Ethicist - Theft of a Prescription Pad
• Ask the Ethicist - When to Refer Complications 
• Ask the Ethicist - Wrong Power IOL