In an article written by Bert Mandelbaum, MD, orthopedic surgeon and co-chair
of medical affairs at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles,
published on
Medscape, more than ever sports medicine physicians are facing ethics challenges.
Here are four takeaways:
1. As reimbursement rates fall for sports medicine physicians, physicians
can be tempted to treat athletes who do not require surgery. Because the
patients being treated are public figures, it can be tempting to over
diagnose or feel pressure to fix the injury quicker.
2. All physicians are required to follow the Physician Payments Sunshine
Act; however, sports medicine physicians face conflicts regarding marketing
arrangements from teams, schools and health centers.
3. Sports medicine physicians are bound to the Hippocratic Oath, calling
on physicians to maintain their patients’ confidentiality. This
oath can get hazy when treating professional athletes.
4. Dr. Mandelbaum recommends going further than taking the oath. He recommends
they take a personal mission statement. He notes that if a physician abuses
or mistreats a patient, their career is no longer noted for its success
but for the tainted reputation surrounding it.
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