Attitudes of rehabilitation medicine doctors toward medical ethics in Malaysia

Mazlina, M. and Julia, P.E. (2011) Attitudes of rehabilitation medicine doctors toward medical ethics in Malaysia. Singapore Medical Journal, 52 (6). pp. 421-427. ISSN 0037-5675,

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Abstract

Introduction: Medical ethics issues encountered in rehabilitation medicine differ from those in an acute care setting due to the complex relationships among the parties involved in rehabilitative care. The study examined the attitudes of Malaysian rehabilitation doctors toward medical ethics issues commonly encountered during patient care. Methods: We surveyed 74 rehabilitation physicians and residents in Malaysia using a self-administered descriptive questionnaire. The questions covered medical ethics issues on allocation of resources, patient confidentiality, discharge planning, goal-setting, reimbursement documentation, decision-making capacity and withdrawal of life support. Results: The overall response rate was 69 percent. More than 80 percent of respondents would disclose confidential information to their team members if it would affect the rehabilitation process. More than two-thirds of respondents would not allocate scarce rehabilitation resources if the functional outcome is marginally positive. Issues involving patients' autonomy in decision-making, both in life-threatening and non-life-threatening situations, showed mix responses. The least common response was on the issue of discharge planning, where 51 percent of respondents would send a patient back to a nursing home with suboptimal care if there were no other alternatives. Conclusion: The attitude of Malaysian rehabilitation doctors toward ethical issues is reflective of the level of maturity of rehabilitation medicine in Malaysia. Issues on allocation of resources, discharge planning and decision-making capacity are significantly influenced by limited rehabilitation facilities in parts of the country. The lack of influence from external factors, such as a developed health insurance system, contributes to the difference in attitude between rehabilitation doctors in Malaysia and those in developed countries.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information: 794PG Times Cited:1 Cited References Count:25
Uncontrolled Keywords: Attitude of health personnel autonomy bioethics medical ethics rehabilitation prospective-payment system inpatient rehabilitation patient autonomy brain-injury clinician health care education issues impact
Subjects: R Medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User: Ms azrahani halim
Date Deposited: 15 May 2014 01:44
Last Modified: 15 May 2014 01:44
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/9902

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