Take Care: There’s More to Medical Ethics Than Absence of Harm

June 1, 2015

(Huffington Post) – There’s a widely held belief that a doctor’s primary ethical obligation is to “do no harm.” The “no harm” principle, taught to all health care professionals, is important and meaningful, but it’s only part of a bigger ethical obligation we medical professionals have. That is, simply put, to take care of people. That duty of care is an important and useful guidepost in the increasingly complex world of medical ethics. Medical professionals have an ethical duty to relieve suffering, and to save and prolong lives.