What ethical responsibilities do Physician Assistants have towards their patients?

What ethical responsibilities do Physician Assistants have towards their patients?

• A. They must promote and market pharmaceutical products.
• B. They must uphold confidentiality, informed consent, and provide competent care.
• C. They must ensure all treatments are experimental.
• D. They must prioritize financial incentives over patient care.

Answer: (B)

The correct answer emphasizes the essential ethical responsibilities of Physician Assistants (PAs) towards their patients, which include upholding confidentiality, obtaining informed consent, and providing competent care. Confidentiality is crucial in establishing trust between the PA and the patient, ensuring that personal health information is protected. Informed consent involves openly communicating treatment options, risks, and benefits to allow patients to make educated decisions about their care. Providing competent care reflects the PA's obligation to deliver evidence-based medical services that meet professional standards, thereby ensuring patient safety and well-being. These principles are foundational to ethical medical practice and crucial in promoting a respectful and professional relationship between healthcare providers and patients. The other options reflect responsibilities and priorities that do not align with the ethical standards expected of PAs. For instance, promoting pharmaceutical products can compromise objectivity and patient trust. Ensuring treatments are experimental without patient acknowledgment could endanger patient safety and violate ethical guidelines. Prioritizing financial incentives over patient care clearly conflicts with the ethical obligation to put patient needs first. Thus, option B encapsulates the core ethical responsibilities integral to the practice of Physician Assistants.

The correct answer emphasizes the essential ethical responsibilities of Physician Assistants (PAs) towards their patients, which include upholding confidentiality, obtaining informed consent, and providing competent care. Confidentiality is crucial in establishing trust between the PA and the patient, ensuring that personal health information is protected. Informed consent involves openly communicating treatment options, risks, and benefits to allow patients to make educated decisions about their care. Providing competent care reflects the PA's obligation to deliver evidence-based medical services that meet professional standards, thereby ensuring patient safety and well-being. These principles are foundational to ethical medical practice and crucial in promoting a respectful and professional relationship between healthcare providers and patients.

The other options reflect responsibilities and priorities that do not align with the ethical standards expected of PAs. For instance, promoting pharmaceutical products can compromise objectivity and patient trust. Ensuring treatments are experimental without patient acknowledgment could endanger patient safety and violate ethical guidelines. Prioritizing financial incentives over patient care clearly conflicts with the ethical obligation to put patient needs first. Thus, option B encapsulates the core ethical responsibilities integral to the practice of Physician Assistants.