JLE

Bulletin du Cancer

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Medicine, ethics and money Volume 90, issue 11, Novembre 2003

Authors
* Institut Bergonié, 229, cours de l‘Argonne, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex

Since the end of the Middle Ages, physicians have been paid in different ways for the care they give. This payment must respect the ethical principles of equity, autonomy and benevolence‐beneficence. Equity requires that everybody be treated according to his needs and not according to his means, the necessary means being offered by physicians or provided by society. Autonomy requires that the physician be independent so that no other consideration ‐‐ including his own material interest ‐‐ takes precedent over the patient‘s interests. Benevolence‐beneficence places the emphasis on means, in accordance with evidence‐based medicine, results being impossible to guarantee. ▴