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A Survey Method For Investigating Ethical Decision Making In Family Practice, Barry Hoffmaster, Moira Stewart, Ronald Christie
A Survey Method For Investigating Ethical Decision Making In Family Practice, Barry Hoffmaster, Moira Stewart, Ronald Christie
C. Barry Hoffmaster
BACKGROUND: The tension between respect for patient autonomy versus concern for patient welfare is a challenging ethical issue for physicians. The purpose of this research was to describe a method for analyzing ethical decisions and to report the results of a survey of ethical decision making among family physicians.
METHODS: We developed a survey instrument that used simulated case scenarios, each of which posed an ethical dilemma. The ethical problems on the survey included the extent to which diagnostic information should be revealed to patients, the extent to which physicians should become involved in patients' life-style issues, and how to …