Ethics Opinions

Physicians who are simultaneously employees and clinical supervisors of nonphysician practitioners must give precedence to their ethical obligation to act in the patient’s best interest and exercise independent professional judgment, even if that puts the physician at odds with the employer or supervisee.

Nurses hold a primary ethical obligation to promote patients’ well-being; while physicians have overall responsibility for the quality of care that patients receive, good nursing practice requires that nurses voice their concerns when, in the nurse’s professional judgment, a physician order is in error or is contrary to good medical practice. Physicians’ relationships with nurses should be based on mutual respect and trust.

Although physicians have overall responsibility for the quality of care that patients receive, allied health professionals have training and expertise that complements physicians’. Allied health professionals share a common commitment to patient well-being. Physicians’ relationships with allied health professionals should be based on mutual respect and trust.

In health care, teams that collaborate effectively can enhance the quality of care for individual patients. Physicians are uniquely situated to serve as clinical team leaders to synthesize the diverse professional perspectives and recommendations of the team into an appropriate, coherent plan of care for the patients.