Ethical problems and case studies in orthopedic surgery

Abstract

Economic, social and professional enforcements along with expeditious developments and novel applications in general medicine and Orthopaedics and Traumatology increased ethical problems in patient-doctor relationships. Four principles approach to bioethics (beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for autonomy and justice) are universally valid and are used widely by health professionals in solving ethical dilemmas. Herein we present three cases in order to illustrate ethical problems in the field of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. The first one is a patient who had got a tumor and did not accept medical intervention, the second one is a patient who had undergone total knee arthroplasty without being informed and the third one is a patient who was recommended total hip arthroplasty and being querried because of implant choice. The cases were analyzed on the basis of beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for autonomy and justice principles and concluded ethically. Eighty years old female patient who had a malignant tumor of soft tissues in her right knee and did not accept biopsy and surgery, 52 years old female patient who had undergone total knee arthroplasty without being informed sufficiently and 57 years old female patient who was recommended total hip arthroplasty and being querried because of implant choice were analyzed in the light of ethical norms. Economic , social and professional enforcements increased the problems of medical ethics in the field of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Although laws arrange the ethical and legal aspects of patient-doctor relationship, special sophisticated cases can only be solved by ethical assessment. In order to be able to reduce the ethical problems in Orthopaedics and Traumatology practices in our country, ethical issues must take place further in both speciality education and postgraduate education of the orthopedists. © 2010 by Türkiye Klinik leri.