Producing more effective physician leaders through medical training: Expanding the focus beyond the doctor-patient relationship.

Abstract

Most of what physicians learn in their training when it comes to ethics focuses on the principles related to the doctor-patient relationship: beneficence, non-maleficence, and autonomy. At a system level, this translates into an obligation for physicians to advocate for their patients based on these principles. Advocacy does not necessarily have answers when resources are scarce, and as a result, physicians often find that they are not "at the table" when important decisions are made at the organizational level. I will argue that for physicians to be more effective leaders within their organizations, there needs to be more of a focus on principle of justice within medical training, specifically when it comes to theories around resource allocation and social justice. This will help physicians to more effectively advocate for their patients, have conversations with healthcare leaders who have different points of view, and participate in organizational decision-making.