Journal Article

Patients and Doctors — The Evolution of a Relationship

Truog, Robert D

2012

Overview

The relationship between patients and doctors is at the core of medical ethics, anchoring many important debates in the field. Over the past several decades, this relationship has evolved along three axes — as it is defined in clinical care, research, and society. The relationship between patients and doctors is at the core of medical ethics, serving as an anchor for many of the most important debates in the field. Over the past several decades, this relationship has evolved along three interrelated axes — as it is defined in clinical care, research, and society. Many of the pivotal discussions of these issues have appeared in the pages of the Journal (see Key NEJM Articles on Medical Ethics). Clinical Care The relationship between patients and doctors in the clinical realm has historically been framed in terms of benevolent paternalism. Until about 1960, most codes of medical ethics relied heavily . . .

• Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
• Subject: Clinical decision making / Clinical trials / Clinical Trials as Topic - ethics / Clinical Trials as Topic - history / Cost-Benefit Analysis / Decision Making / Ethics, Clinical - history / Ethics, Medical / Health care / History, 20th Century / History, 21st Century / Informed Consent / Mammography - economics / Mammography - standards / Medical ethics / Patient Participation / Patients / Physician's Role - history / Physician-Patient Relations - ethics / Physicians / United States / Values