Professionalism

When third‐year medical students begin to work on the hospital wards and in outpatient clinics they begin to assume not only the rights but the responsibilities of physicians. Among these important new responsibilities are professionalism, altruism and high ethical standards:

  • Professionalism involves competent and compassionate patient care, collegial relations with peers and ongoing learning to provide patients with the best and most current treatments.

  • Altruism is putting the health and well‐being of patients ahead of personal interest and personal gain.

  • High ethical standards mandate honesty in all dealings with patients and colleagues, in research and in the testing that is periodically required of physicians for licensure, board certification, etc. With these responsibilities in mind, we propose the following ethical guidelines for third‐year medical students at Case:

    • Attendance is required at all signed and unsigned clinics, lectures, seminars and rounds. If absence is due to illness, family emergency or other legitimate cause, the student should make every effort to contact the ward attending/resident, clinic preceptor and clerkship administrator – if possible in advance. Unexcused absences may lead to a lowering of the clerkship grade or other disciplinary measure.
    • Dishonesty and cheating in any form will not be tolerated. Cheating on examinations and falsification of research are examples of serious ethical violations. Other forms of dishonesty such as a student signing in absent friends at a clerkship lecture are also regarded as serious and may lead to disciplinary action. No act of cheating or dishonesty is “minor” or “trivial”, especially in view of the high ethical standards to which physicians are traditionally held.

Multiple clinicians and patients will commit time and energy toward your education. We hope that this statement of expectations regarding your professional behavior and demeanor will be an unnecessary reminder throughout the clerkship.