Doctor-Patient Communication: Replace Ethical Obstacles

Good effect of medical treatment must be predicated on harmonious doctor-patient relationships. With the development of medical sciences and reforms, both the material and spiritual life in China has become better. Doctor-patient relationships, however, confront new challenges. The major obstacle of communication in the relationships has become a serious social problem and a medical ethics issue.The thesis adopts the theoretical achievements in the area, analyses the current situation of doctor-patient relationships and reasons for obstacles in doctor-patient communication and discusses how to remove the obstacles and build harmonious doctor-patient relationships. This process can be seen in the following three parts.1. Current situation of doctor-patient relationshipsThe author defines "doctor-patient relationships" and then points out the current situation of doctor-patient relationships in China has deteriorated and the conflicts between doctors and patients are more fiercely fought. Studies have demonstrated that unhealthy doctor-patient communication is the major cause of medical malpractice. In order to improve doctor-patient communication and protect their bilateral interests,society as a whole has advocated to respect the patients' right of informed consent. However, some patients doubt and object to this view; some, doctors prefer a wider range of tests and possible treatments to protect their medical reputation.2. Reasons for obstacles in doctor-patient communicationHumanism vacuum in medical sciences is a result of lack of western medical humanism and loss of Chinese traditional medical humanism. Scientism in medical education and practice has made the doctor-patient relationships materialistic. Money worship has eliminated the love and trust between doctors and patients. Medical sciences have become not stories between person and person, but between person and machine, between person and money. The humanism vacuum has resulted in unhealthy doctor-patient communication.3. Replace ethical obstacles in doctor-patient communicationThe author discusses both the medical model and the doctor-patient model and suggests uniting the technology communication and non-technology communication in order to rebuild the medical sciences with sufficient levels of humanity. The most important thing is to embrace our own culture in the interests of doctors and patients. We should critically assimilate western and Chinese medical humanism and fully understand the significance of informed consent. In order to promote communication and improve doctor-patient relationships, we must correctly handle two problems. One is that patients or their agents, especially families, should exercise the right of informed consent. The other is how to balance the need for informed consent and medical paternalism.