Inviting Introspection:Intentions for Ethical Engagement in Practice
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Abstract
The practice of medicine is full of ethical challenges. Although ethical principles and organizational formats can help clinicians manage these challenges, they do not necessarily help them develop the routine habit of bringing a focused ethical attentiveness to every patient encounter. In this article, the author—a seasoned generalist practitioner—describes how he has personally worked to cultivate this habit by holding in mind four introspective intentions. These intentions are aimed at alleviating suffering, promoting dignity, recognizing interdependency, and advancing wisdom, respectively. The author presents these intentions, reviews some benefits by which they enhance his work, and discusses some concerns they pose. He concludes by inviting other health care professionals and bioethical specialists to consider integrating intentions into their own clinical and consultative practices.
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