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Doctor is an academic title that originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre 'to teach'. It has been used as an academic title in Europe since the 13th century, when the first Doctorates were awarded at the University of Bologna and the University of Paris. Having become established in European universities, this usage spread around the world. Contracted "Dr" or "Dr.", it is used as a designation for a person who has obtained a Doctorate (e.g. PhD). In many parts of the world it is also used by medical practitioners, regardless of whether or not they hold a doctoral-level degree.
In India, professional practitioners in the fields of medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine are usually addressed as doctor even though they hold bachelor's-level degrees. The legal right to use the title and to add the prefix 'Dr' to their name follows recognition by the Medical Council of India or the Veterinary Council of India. A person who has been awarded a PhD (or other doctoral level degree) by a university recognized by the University Grants Commission of India, is entitled to be addressed as doctor and to prefix the abbreviation 'Dr' to their name.
What duties do doctors have toward their patients? Doctors have many duties toward their patients. Their responsibilities cover their own actions, as well as orders they give to their assistants, such as nurses, medical students and residents.
These are a doctor's main duties:
Obligation to Diagnose and Treat Patients In legal terms, doctors have an obligation of means toward their patients, not an obligation of result. This means that they have to take appropriate steps available to make the right diagnosis, provide treatment and follow-up on their patients' progress. Doctors must base their actions on up-to-date scientific information and use recognized treatments in the right way. They must treat their patients attentively and conscientiously. Doctors must recognize their own limits: in case of doubt, they must get information from other people or refer patients to specialists.
The duty to treat patients includes the duty to
prescribe the right medication, tell patients about the advantages, disadvantages, risks and alternatives regarding a proposed treatment or operation, and provide adequate follow-up to the patient within a reasonable amount of time. For example, after a treatment, a doctor must provide the medical follow-up required by the patient's state of health, or at least make sure that a colleague or other professional follows up.
Duty to Provide Information
Doctors must give their patients all the information they need to make free and informed decisions. For example, doctors must tell their patients about the following: diagnosis nature, goal and seriousness of the treatment risks of the treatment other treatment options The doctor's duty to provide information also includes answering patients' questions. The doctor's duty is toward the patients themselves, the people who make decisions on behalf of patients, or the parents of children under the age of 14. Doctors must explain the chances of success and the risk of failure of the suggested treatment, keeping in mind the patient's specific condition. Doctors must also inform their patients about the possible negative effects of a treatment. However, it is impossible for a doctor to talk about all of the possible risks; doctors must tell their patients about the foreseeable risks, in other words the risks that are most likely to occur. Doctors must also tell patients about any rare risk that could have serious consequences. The extent of the duty to provide information depends on the circumstances and the patient in question. For some types of treatments, doctors are required to give more complete and specific information about the risks. This is the case, for example, with purely experimental treatments as well as treatments that are not aimed at curing an illness or injury, like some types of plastic surgery. In these cases, doctors must tell patients about all possible and rare risks. Duty to Make Sure the Patient Gives Free and Informed Consent The reason behind the duty of doctors to provide information to patients is to give patients all the information they need to make free and informed decisions with full knowledge of the facts about the treatment and care offered. When a patient agrees to treatment or care, this is called consent.
The duty to get the consent of patients is a continuous process. This is why patients must be kept informed about any new information about their states of health and the treatments they are receiving.
Duty to Respect Confidentiality Doctors have a duty to respect their patients' confidentiality. This is sometimes called the duty of professional secrecy. This duty covers both the information patients tell their doctors and any facts doctors discover about their patients as part of the doctor-patient relationship. Professional secrecy belongs to the patient, not the doctor. Doctors cannot reveal what their patients tell them, unless their patients waive the confidentiality of the information or if the law allows it. For example, the Public Health Act says that certain diseases must be reported to public health agencies. Also, doctors can reveal some confidential information when they have very important and fair reasons to do so and these reasons relate to the health or safety of the patient or people close to the patient.
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What are the most common tools used by a doctor? Doctors use the stethoscope to listen to lung and heart sounds. It can also be used to evaluate the intestines, the blood vessels and to obtain blood pressure in combination with a sphygmomanometer, In the right hands, it is a very powerful tool. Heart Sounds: Heart Sounds | Free Lessons and Quizzes | Easy Auscultation University of Washington School of Medicine Heart Sounds Listen to Heart Sounds Basic Heart Sounds Lung Sounds: Lung Sounds | Free Lessons and Quizzes | Easy Auscultation ECG | EKG | Heart Sounds | Murmurs | Lung Sounds Listen to Lung Sounds
ESSENTIAL QUALITIES OF A PHYSICIAN
When American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine’s Admissions Committee examines a candidate, the first thing they assess is his or her capability to become a successful physician. Although these qualities aren’t quantifiable, they are evaluated by the candidate’s potential to demonstrate traits that are shared by some of the best physicians working today. Here are some of them:
Compassion Physicians aren’t robots. They’re not just there to insensitively deliver prognoses or mechanically perform complex surgeries. They need heart. Patients respond better to a physician who is empathetic to their needs, so focus on exercising courtesy and compassion with your patients. At AUA, we instill compassion in our students with early hands-on training, which gives them experience interacting with patients. By developing these skills early, our students are better prepared to meet the demands of practicing medicine and master the essentials of patient care.
Strong Work Ethic Having a strong work ethic means you dedicate 100% of yourself to your work every day, regardless of how tired you are or what is going on in your personal life. While this quality will help you succeed in any field, it is especially essential to the practice of medicine. Every day brings a new challenge. Even if you don’t know what those challenges will be, you’ll have to be ready to face them. Preparation is time consuming, but you must put in the effort if you want to succeed.
Professionalism Simply slipping on a white coat won’t command respect from your patients; it must be earned. As with all encounters, first impressions are paramount. If you are inattentive, impatient, or unkempt, your patient will feel unsatisfied and neglected and will most likely seek the care of another physician. Unlike other Caribbean medical schools, AUA has an Education Department (ED) that fosters your professional skills and decorum.
Knowledge Physicians need to have encyclopedic medical knowledge that can be recalled at a moment’s notice. They also have to stay on top of the latest medical news and trends, which could contradict something that was learned way back in medical school. In other words, as advancements are made in the field, you’ll have to learn new information that enhances or counters what you’ve already committed to memory. At AUA, ED is available to help you develop methods to retain that knowledge and apply relevant information quickly.
Confidence Because a successful physician is highly knowledgeable, he or she must reinforce that with confidence. Patients want to trust their physicians as caregivers, but the lack of self-assurance communicates uncertainty. A physician with strong, healthy confidence will be listened to and respected by patients and colleagues alike. Even if you feel unsure about something, don’t let your patient see it. Instead, consult other resources, specialists, case studies, etc. in order to provide your patient with the most informed treatment. If you want to strengthen your confidence by improving your leadership skills, Urbana University offers an online MBA program designed specifically for aspiring physicians.
Humility
Humility and confidence work as a complementary pair. With your patients and colleagues, you must be approachable and available. This means that despite time limitations and over-scheduling, your patient never feels rushed. Hear everything he or she has to say without preemptively voicing your diagnosis. You must also be willing to admit when you’re unsure about something and especially willing to ask questions. A physician is a lifelong learner and these situations should strengthen your resolve.
Passion Promising medical school applicants don’t want to become physicians because of the salary. They apply because they have a passion for the study and practice of medicine. Their passion makes them disciplined and willing to sacrifice other opportunities to better their career. If you are dedicated to improving the lives of others and can spend long nights hovering over patient charts, then you’ve applied to the right profession.
9 steps to help you find the right doctor for you and your family
Choosing a primary care doctor is one of the most important health decisions you’ll make. And thanks in part to the Affordable Care Act, which has dramatically increased the number of people with health insurance, more people than ever are now searching for a physician they can call their own.
“Unfortunately, it’s hard to find reliable, easy-to-understand information about specific doctors or practices,” Doris Peter, Ph.D., director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center, said. “Sure, you can check out physician reviews on sites such as Yelp and Angie’s List, but do you really want to find a doctor the same way you do a restaurant or plumber? Probably not.”
Still, there are strategies and resources that can help you find a new doctor or check up on one you already have. Here’s why it’s so important to find a good primary care doctor, what to focus on in your search, and where to go for the information you need.
Get a Go-To Doctor More and more insurance plans require that you choose one physician to serve as your main resource. That go-to person can not only help you with day-to-day health problems such as the flu or a sprained ankle but also refer you to specialists when necessary and, important, oversee all of the care you get.
“It may seem like a burden or restrictive to have to choose a primary care provider,” Orly Avitzur, M.D., medical director at Consumer Reports, said. “But everyone needs a project manager, so to speak, to help you navigate our confusing health care system.”
Growing research suggests that people who have a strong relationship with a physician not only report greater satisfaction with their care but also may enjoy better health. That makes sense, because having good communication and collaboration with the doctor who oversees your care can help make sure you get the tests and treatments you need, and avoid common problems, such as getting duplicative or contradictory treatments from a legion of specialists.
Let the Search Begin If you know a doctor, nurse, or healthcare professional, ask for the names of doctors or practices in your area whom they like and trust. That can be more insightful than recommendations from friends or family. You should also consider what kind of doctor you want. Someone who can care for your whole family? Someone who focuses on women or older people (see below)? Here are some other things to consider as you search for Dr. Right:
Check your insurance: Use your insurer’s directory or search on its website for doctors in your network. Because doctors often add or drop plans, call the office to verify that the doctor still accepts your insurance. Consider hospital affiliation: Your choice of doctor can determine which hospital you go to, if needed, so find out where the doctor has admitting privileges. Then use our hospital ratings to see how that facility compares with other hospitals in your area. Look for board certification: Being certified through the American Board of Medical Specialties means a doctor has earned a medical degree from a qualified medical school, completed three to seven years of accredited residency training, is licensed by a state medical board, and has passed one or more exams administered by a member of the ABMS. To maintain the certification, a doctor is expected to participate in continuing education. To see whether a doctor is certified, go to certificationmatters. org.
Watch out for red flags: They include malpractice claims and disciplinary actions. Even good doctors can get sued once or twice, but “you certainly don’t want someone who has had a lot of malpractice claims,” Avitzur says. Common reasons for being disciplined include substance abuse and inappropriate sexual behavior, though it can be hard to know exactly why a doctor was sanctioned. Most states let doctors practice while they receive treatment. Consider compatibility: More than half of Americans focus on personality and relationship when choosing a physician, according to a 2014 survey from The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (Just 29 percent said the delivery of care or the patient’s health outcome was most crucial.) Use your first visit as a litmus test. Some factors to consider: Does the doctor listen to you without interrupting? Does she fully answer your questions? Does she explain your diagnosis and treatment, and specify a date for a follow-up visit?
Ask about drug reps: Many doctors let representatives from pharmaceutical companies into their offices to pitch their drugs. That not only takes up a lot of the doctor’s time but also may inappropriately influence his choice of drugs. “That can get patients started on a brand-name medication that may be more expensive or may not be the best one for them,” Peter said. Moreover, a doctor’s attitude toward drug reps can indicate how committed he is to practicing according to the best evidence, not pressures from industry.
Find out about office policies: Ask how long it takes to make an appointment for a routine visit (it should be less than a week), whether they offer same-day appointments, and how long patients are kept in the waiting room. Once you’re a patient, if the reality doesn’t meet your expectations, consider shopping around. That’s important not only to save you time but also for your health. In practices that waste patients’ time, research shows that “patients are less likely to follow up on recommendations to prevent or manage chronic conditions,” said L. Gordon Moore, M.D., chief medical officer at Treo Solutions, a data analytics firm.
Scrutinize the staff: They are the people who will schedule your appointments, check you in and out, give the doctor your messages, and address insurance concerns. Look for a staff that’s friendly, efficient, and respectful. “Health care is a team sport,” said Lois Margaret Nora, M.D., J.D., and president and CEO of the American Board of Medical Specialties. “People should expect quality in their doctor and the system in which the physician practices.” Factor in technology: Electronic health records let your doctor track your medical history, share info with specialists, and monitor all of your drugs. Many doctors also have a patient portal, a secured website that gives you 24-hour access to your health information, allowing you to book and track doctor appointments, get lab results, request prescription refills, and e-mail questions to your doctor. The government requires that health information be protected with passwords, encryption, and other technical safeguards. Still, ask how your information will be safeguarded.
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