Compassion is widely recognized as a critical and fundamental element of ethical medical practice. Although this trait is not included among the four traditional pillars of medical ethics, which are autonomy, beneficence, non-malfeasance and justice, it is perhaps the most important value in the field of medical ethics and in medical clinical practice. Indeed, compassion is the first articulated principle in the American Medical Association’s standards of conduct for physicians’ honorable behavior: “A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 60 million people, representing 20% of the United States population, live in rural areas within the country. From a medical ethics perspective, rural areas face a broad range of health and health care challenges which must be addressed. There are increasingly dramatic physician shortages in rural America. Rural areas also suffer from severe lack of medical support providers such as pharmacists, therapists, clinicians, dentists, rehabilitation centers and hospitals.
Compassion is widely recognized as a critical and fundamental element of ethical medical practice. Although this trait is not included among the four traditional pillars of medical ethics, which are autonomy, beneficence, non-malfeasance and justice, it is perhaps the most important value in the field of medical ethics and in medical clinical practice. Indeed, compassion is the first articulated principle in the American Medical Association’s standards of conduct for physicians’ honorable behavior: “A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 60 million people, representing 20% of the United States population, live in rural areas within the country. From a medical ethics perspective, rural areas face a broad range of health and health care challenges which must be addressed. There are increasingly dramatic physician shortages in rural America. Rural areas also suffer from severe lack of medical support providers such as pharmacists, therapists, clinicians, dentists, rehabilitation centers and hospitals.
