Exploring the Influence of Medical Ethics on Physicians’ Ethical Behaviors: A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Stakeholders

Abstract

This study explicates the influence of medical ethics on the clinical practices of physicians in Pakistan. Socially and environmentally responsible behaviors not only elevate current standards of cures but promote overall corporate image. However, physicians are more commercial-oriented than social, and their adherence to medical ethics plays a significant role in avoiding the misuse of drugs, particularly antibiotics. Medical ethics are universal principles that govern the behaviors and clinical practices of healthcare professionals. The study scientifically discerned that these principles have a conspicuous relationship with shaping the clinical practices of physicians. The researchers conducted 13 in-depth interviews with the physicians selected through a purposive sampling technique. The interviews were transcribed and then analyzed through constructivist grounded theory techniques which resulted in a single theme “Physicians' Compliance with Medical Ethics and its Consequences” with subcategories like physicians' engagement in unethical behaviors, inconsiderate use of antibiotics, physicians’ materialistic approach, non-compliance with medical ethics and SOPs, and medical ethics and clinical practices. In conclusion, physicians who adhere to medical ethics are more rational users of pharmaceuticals than those who are not. Therefore, medical ethics has the potential to shape the prescribing habits of physicians.