Why Better Doctoring
“Better Doctoring” is about better patient care. It is a way to serve patients by promoting physicians’ aspirations to meet high standards of quality and professionalism.
Professional and ethical violations and concerns need not mean the end of a medical career. If approached properly, such occasions may offer an opportunity for professional growth and renewal.
The Alden March Bioethics Institute’s “Better Doctoring” seminar is a time-sensitive, online course designed for physicians seeking to enhance their knowledge and judgment skills relating to medical ethics and professionalism. This course combines a general approach to the field of medical professionalism and misconduct as well personally tailored needs. (For example: an individual’s interest in allegations of misconduct or a response to a specific type of violation.)
Topics for this seminar were selected from: complaints made to state medical boards and evaluations of their disciplinary actions, discussions with national leaders in clinical competency remediation and education, and consultations with lawyers who represent physicians and other health care providers before state medical boards and institutional quality review committees.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this conference, participants will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge about prevailing standards of professionalism arising from professional organizations, codes of conduct and medical ethics.
- Identify some of the ways in which physicians fail to act as professionals or good doctors towards patients, colleagues, staff, and the community.
- Exercise sound reasoning skills and judgment in reaching viable solutions in cases of potential violations of medical professionalism.
- Engage in reflective writing about professional infractions.
- Participate openly and respectfully in discussions with peers and mentors about professional infractions.
- Give and receive thoughtful and constructive feedback with mentors and peers.
- Formulate a personal plan for renewed commitment to professional values, norms and service, medical ethics and professionalism.
