A Study on Ethical Conformity and Its Effects on the Interpersonal Relationship Among Doctors of Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center

Abstract

"Doctors are members of one of the most noble of all professions. But the value of its contribution to mankind simply reflects the self-sacrificing work of its members; and the respect with which the great profession is held in society, is dependent upon the conduct of the individual members." (Solis 184) It is obvious that the medical profession has an obligation to conduct its activities according to sound ethical ideals. The doctors then have a personal responsibility in this matter toward the profession. They elevate and preserve the moral standards of their profession by applying them in their own personal careers, as well as by the example and inspiration which they thereby give to their co-workers. One of the doctor's professional responsibilities is to willingly render gratuitous service to a colleague, to his wife or her husband, and his minor children. Even his father or mother may be included provided they are aged and are being supported by the colleague. It is stated in the Medical Code of Ethics that a member of the medical community can avail and at the same time provide free counseling for a co-doctor. This is because experience teaches that it is unwise for a doctor to treat members of his own family or himself, so what he does is seek for a colleague's assistance. Thus, a physician should always cheerfully and gratuitously respond with his professional services to the call of any colleague. This research entitled, "A Study of Ethical Conformity and Its Effects on the Interpersonal Relationship Among Doctors" seeks to find out as its sub-problems: a) the primary factors that affect a doctor's conformity/non-conformity to the Gratuitous Law, and b) the perceptions of the doctors on the concept of conformity to the law. Concerns about ethical wrongdoing are epidemic today. In the medical profession, more and more doctors are being drawn into the lure of money and consequently, twenty (20) percent of the paper's respondents have been found guilty. One of the aspects that is likely to be affected by conformity or non-conformity is his interpersonal relationships. The organization that the researcher chose as the subject of this study, is the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center. As a non-profit, government general hospital, the employed doctors are usually considered tight when it comes to money matters, thus are more susceptible to non-conformity to the Gratuitous Law, which involves professional fees. It is presumed by the researcher, that having this consideration in mind, Ospital ng Maynila provides the perfect context for this case study. The researcher employed a descriptive design to obtain the specific information as to exactly how the doctors' IPR is affected by conformity. A survey questionnaire, and an ethnographic interview schedule were deemed necessary to the data-gathering. From the data gathered, it was evident that instead 9f the expected noticeable effects on IPR due to non-conformity, there-were no traces of effects whatsoever in their relationships. The respondents maintained that non-compliance to the ethical law affected the natures of IPR, IPC and the communication climate 011/yoccasionally. These areas arc: sharing a common field of experience; establishment of boundaries/limits; maintenance of a supportive climate; acceptance of responsibility for misunderstandings; meeting on a regular person-to-person basis; empathy; and respecting each others' worth. Hence, there is absence of a clear proof that nonconformity to the Gratuitous Law docs affect the relationships of doctors. Meanwhile, it was the conformists who perceived fairly noticeable improved effects in the nature of their relationships with others, as a result of their adherence to the ethical law. Among the areas frequently affected were: the establishment of boundaries/limits; positive regard for each other; exhibiting trustful behavior; genuineness and empathy; and finally, having mutual respect. Based on all these, the researcher concludes that conformity has positive/improved effects on the interpersonal relationships, as perceived by the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center physicians. This study therefore confirms the claim of experts and researchers that ethical conformity enhances interpersonal relationships in an organizational setting.