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Ethical Attitude to Difficult Patients

Summary/Abstract: Professional ethics in medicine is based on codes of ethics, that contain models of behavior and virtues that physicians and health professionals should apply in their practice. Despite the inherent virtues of medical profession, some patients are a challenge and a test for the interpersonal skills of medical professionals. Some personal characteristics of these patients make communication difficult, and classify them in the category of „difficult“ patients. More often „difficult“ patients are elderly, divorced or widowed patients with multiple acute or chronic diseases, prolonged drug therapy and terminally ill. As a result of increased life expectancy and the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases such patients can be found in most medical practices. Effective treatment and care of these patients raises important ethical issues related to respect of the autonomy of the patient, creating confidence and obtaining informed consent. This requires medical professionals to continuously develop their communication skills through continuing education and to develop psychological approaches and ethical thinking.

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