All healthcare facilities rely on the expertise and administrative services that only a well-trained Medical Assistant can supply. This is why Medical assistants are highly in demand.
There is a projected increase in medical assistant jobs of 29 percent from 2016 to 2026, more than any other occupation. However, since medical aid is such a delicate and vital job, professional standards of ethics must guide their actions.
If you are seriously considering a career as a medical assistant, here is a 5-step guide on personal and professional ethics in medical assisting and some concrete examples to help you:
1. Do No Harm
Professional ethics trump personal ethics and ideals because they ensure patients’ basic needs are met and their rights are always respected, whoever the medical assistant may be or wherever they are in the country.
The medical assistant takes an oath to uphold this basic ethical principle while working in a healthcare facility. This is crucial, especially in many situations where the medical assistant will have to make a quick decision. The “do no harm” principle guides their decision-making.
For example, suppose a medical assistant’s religious affiliation refuses all blood products. In that case, they will most likely not choose to work in a blood bank as a career. However, they should not allow their personal beliefs to affect their decision-making while assisting with blood donation or an urgent blood transfusion.
However, if the medical assistant informs their employer beforehand, a substitute staff may be provided to take their place. A medical practitioner in the US may refuse to perform specific medical procedures if they have religious objections. Federal-funded facilities can also legally use substitute staff to perform treatment and medical assistance.
2. Do the Best Possible
The medical assistant uses this standard when taking care of or assisting a patient. Not only should they aim not to harm their patients, but to also do their best to care for them.
For example, a medical assistant works with a patient in pain from a herniated disc. The medical assistant can help relieve some of the patient’s pain by using a heating pad. In this situation, the medical assistant is doing the best possible for the patient because the heating pad helps relieve the patient’s pain.
3. Be Faithful to Reasonable Expectations
This standard is used when a patient has reasonable expectations. A medical assistant needs to listen to what a patient tells them or what they ask for.
For example, a patient says they want to be left alone while resting after surgery. The patient has reasonable expectations that the medical assistant will respect their wishes. Medical assistants, then, should not approach the patient when they are resting, except for unavoidable situations, like administering their medication on time.
4. Be a Patient Advocate
A patient advocate goes with the patient to all appointments and helps to ensure that the patient is heard by medical professionals. This is true for patients who have a history of sexual abuse.
A patient advocate can aid the patient and ensure their requirements are satisfied. So people can obtain the care they need while their history of sexual abuse is not overlooked.
5. Tell the Truth
A patient should be able to trust the medical assistant. A medical assistant should not be deceiving a patient while caring for them. This can be difficult because a patient might ask the medical assistant to do something against their beliefs.
For example, a patient requests a prescription for pain medication that can put the patient at risk. The medical assistant can refuse to give the prescription, especially because the number one rule for medical assistance is to do the patient no harm.
Conclusion
Medical assistants make sure a patient gets the best healthcare possible. These ethical principles should always guide their actions as they help their patients and make life better through the quality of care they provide. They need to put the patient’s needs above their own, mainly because they are a patient’s first point of contact with medical professionals.
If you want career opportunities in medical assisting, Northwest Suburban College provides medical assistant training for students in Rolling Meadows, IL, that provides real-world skills to be a reliable and professional medical assistant. We have an 8-month program with convenient schedules, so you get trained and certified by the best in the medical assistance field. Contact us today if you want to learn more about our programs!
