Healthy Communication:  Your Doctor and You

Medical providers hold immense power through their knowledge of the body, power which can be used ethically as a servant for the public good, or selfishly for personal gain. Because of the power and influence medical professionals have over your rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"¹ they have been held to a higher ethical standard since the days of the Hippocratic Oath and the ancient Greeks.

Is your medical provider treating you ethically? Three primary ethical principles should govern your medical provider’s communication with you:

• Patient First (Beneficence) – ethical practitioners are committed to putting your needs before their own through caring about your whole person and disclosing any conflicts of interest.
   
• Do No Harm (Non-Malfeasance) – ethical practitioners help you prevent future health problems, explore the least-risky treatments first, and keep your private information completely confidential.
   
• Empowerment (Autonomy) – ethical practitioners respect your dignity and power to choose by providing all the information you need to make an informed decision about your healthcare.

CompassCare's professional physicians and nurses are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards. We help turn fear into confidence by ensuring that you are respected, cared for, and well informed.

CompassCare's Patient Bill of Rights further demonstrates how you can expect to be treated during your Free Appointment for pregnancy services or STD testing.