IndexAre economics and medicine ethically incompatibleAnalysis of Albert Schweitzer or Ivan Boesky?ThesisFacts and opinionsProblems and propagandaLogical errorsAnalysis of what market values do in medicineThesisFacts and opinionsProblems and propagandaThere is no propaganda that I have noticed in this essay. Logical Fallacies Summary: Business and medicine are ethically incompatible In the book Taking Sides, authors Lisa Newton and Maureen Ford present the question in the fifth issue: Business and medicine are ethically incompatible. Professor of Medicine Arnold S. Relman's essay Analysis of What Market Values Are Doing in Medicine is used to present a case that yes, they are incompatible. Assistant Professor of Economics, Essay by Andrew C. Wicks Analysis by Albert Schweitzer or Ivan Boesky? Why we should reject the dichotomy between medicine and business is used to argue that no, they are not incompatible. I will analyze these two works, noting credibility, thesis statement, facts and opinions, problems and propaganda, and logical fallacies in each individually. The argument against incompatibility is very convincing; however, it fails to address the possibilities for misconduct that a medicine and business model entails. Without resolving these specific concerns, we must be cautious about believing Mr. Wick's theory that they are not only compatible, but also similar. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Analysis of Albert Schweitzer or Ivan Boesky? Credibility Andrew C. Wicks, the author, is an assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Business. This work was originally published in the Journal of Business Ethics, volume 14 (1995). His profession and the respect accorded to his work by the Journal of Business Ethics make him credible on the topic of ethics and business. At the beginning of the essay he states that his approach to this topic is that of an ethicist trained to think about normative questions. Thesis Andrew Wicks outlines the premise on which his essay is based with this thesis statement, My underlying goal is to help reconceptualize the way we think about both medicine and business and, in so doing, reshape the way we approach American health crisis. Facts and Opinions It is well known that our healthcare needs reform by reducing costs, reducing waste, promoting innovation, recognizing scarcity, avoiding replication of services and expensive technologies, educating doctors to be more active custodians of health services, increasing access and minimizing costs. After recognizing the need for renewal and reform, the author goes on to refute the opposition's rejection of the business model, correcting misinterpreted terms. We are carefully reminded that self-interest is a different concept from selfishness and greed, and that the former is perfectly compatible with the achievement of other moral ends while the latter is not. Wicks does an effective job of getting us to share his view that the way people view medical ethics should be tempered somewhat, along with people's view of business ethics. He does this by pointing out that very few doctors are capable of following the altruistic ethic imposed on them and very few businessmen are as selfish and greedy as some have implied. The truth about motivations, regardless of profession, lies somewhere between the two extremes, and it would be helpful for healthcare systems and patients to recognize this reality. With this recognition we can begin to agree thatcombining ethics and self-interest means rehabilitating our extreme opinions and adopting a new vision or moral code that makes trust, respect for others, decency and fair play central concepts that can and must be applied to both medicine and business individually and cooperatively. Problems and Propaganda I mean it's oversimplified, which is true if you try to apply this moral code as a solution to specific conflict of interest issues. However, the real problem is that it only addresses a single aspect of the issue. The author works from the business side to develop a kinder view of business; does not address any issues of potential conflict of interest. Logical Fallacies There is a double standard as Mr Wicks points out that opposition concerns about the cost of marketing medicines create an overly simplistic picture, whilst his essay is based on a single point which oversimplifies issues relating to medicine and business model. Furthermore, he inserted a couple of meaningless statements into this work. Included in the meaningless statements is this one stating that the only difference between the medical model and the business model is that the medical model encourages overtreatment while the business model encourages undertreatment. This theory-based generalization is not supported by common knowledge or a single example. He later makes the same mistake when he states that when treatments are offered, they are also denied, implying that there are only a fixed number of specific treatments available to the public. My guess is that he meant to say that money for health care is scarce, too scarce to provide all the tests and all the services to everyone. Merks' story was pleasant to hear, although it offered nothing to refute the opposition's thesis. It was an empty category. The debate is not about whether or not businesses can make human decisions, but about who should make healthcare decisions or decisions about healthcare facilities, doctors or entrepreneurs; and physicians can be objective physicians when they have personal interests in health care settings and research programs. A selective sample is considered when it is said that the doctor benefits when patients are given aggressive and excessive care. While this may be true for some specialties, it is not true for most primary care providers. Third-party payers often give these doctors a flat fee based on the number of patients they serve. This fee is the same regardless of the level of care or number of visits the patient receives. Furthermore, Mr. Wicks makes the procedural mistake of arguing in circles; it does so by restating the same argument throughout the essay. While Wicks notes that this new vision of medicine and business is not comprehensive healthcare reform, he implies that this changed mindset will solve many things. However, the only points he strives to make are those regarding our view of medical ethics and business ethics. It shifts the burden of proof to all other claims made in this work. Analysis of the Effect of Market Values in Medicine The author, Arnold S. Relman, is considered credible because he is both a doctor and a professor of medicine. As a professor of medicine, you are expected to maintain a thorough knowledge of clinical healthcare and the business of medical practice. This essay was written in 1992. Recognizing that, to some extent, this critical analysis of a nine-year-old essay presents a means of judgingunfair and its own type of logical error, I will continue with the analysis anyway.ThesisDr. Relman's thesis is as follows. Doctors have enjoyed a privileged position in our society, virtually guaranteeing them a high social status and a good life. They have been granted these privileges in the expectation that they will remain competent and trustworthy and faithfully fulfill the fiduciary responsibility to patients proclaimed in their codes of ethics. Facts and Opinions One fact noted in support of this case of incompatibility is the statement made by the American Medical Association in the Principles of Medical Ethics In the practice of medicine a physician should limit the source of his professional income to the medical services actually rendered by him, or under his supervision, to his patients. Although not a law, this statement, written in 1957, clearly shows the ethical belief among colleagues that physicians should not receive financial gains in the field of medicine beyond those received through their patient care services. Dr. Relman also wanted to highlight the fact that there is a lack of regulations and laws that prohibit physicians from becoming owners, investors and/or contract personnel of healthcare facilities, services or related healthcare activities. This was of little concern many years ago, but has become a concern with technological advances, an increase in investor-owned healthcare facilities, and incentives and contracts from pharmaceutical companies. Relman begins his concern by premise that professionalism among self-employed private practitioners thrives when there is more than enough to do. When it does not exist, competition for patients and concerns about income tend to undermine professional values and influence professional judgment. He then goes on to note that at the moment there is an excess of health workers and facilities. Having hinted at an open possibility of misconduct, Dr. Relman goes on to state that there is plenty of ownership, investor and contractual opportunities available to these doctors. He clearly states his view that physician-owned medical businesses create a conflict of interest that inhibits physicians' ability to adhere to fiduciary relationships with their patients. Issues and propaganda My best is shown in combination with resistance to change such as the history of the Hippocratic Oath, Maimonides the prayer, the World Medical Organization's International Code, the American Medical Society guidelines, and the de facto contract with the company are all offered as evidence to support the case of incompatibility. In reality, these sources show only two things, the historical and traditional ethics of medicine, and the adherence to those ethics by many colleagues and peer organizations. However, I do not believe that the fallacy of an illogical argument based on tradition is present as there are substantial reasons for concern regarding the mix of medicine and business throughout the essay. As a matter of fact, there are enough reasons for concern to question the presence of the mine and the resistance to change the problems if it were not for the obvious or the error of thinking. This or this way of thinking is evident from the absence of alternative solutions. An unwarranted assumption was implied. It works like this: Without medical ethics, the motives of many doctors could not be trusted, and many commercial salespeople care about nothing but profitability. While both implications may be true for some, they are nowhere near true enough to justify these implications. Relevant information is omitted in the accusation that consumers are unaware of conflicts of interest when i.
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