Skip to main content

Ethical Issues

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Lasers in Dermatology and Medicine

Abstract

Ethical behavior transcends legal implications, and represents the level of professionalism, humanity and morality a physician should possess in order to address his/her patient’s care.If a physician upholds his/her ethical responsibility to a higher standard than a legal obligation, the patient’s best interests may be addressed.The Hippocratic Oath may not address specific ethical problems unique to the utility of lasers, therefore many professional associations have devised tenets to follow.The simple acronym, “E-T-H-I-C-A-L” may help guide a physician to uphold the highest ethical standard when performing a laser procedure.Financial gain may entice a physician to not optimize care for a patient.It is ethical for a physician to remain honest about their experience and training.Full disclosure of pertinent information to the patient may be sensible so he/she may remain the autonomous decision-maker without physician biases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Webster SB. Professionalism and medical ethics in dermatology-2000. Arch Dermatol. 2000;136(1):101-102.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ringel E. The morality of cosmetic surgery for aging. Arch Dermatol. 1998;134:427-431.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cantor J. Cosmetic dermatology and physicians’ ethical obligations: more than just hope in a jar. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2005;24:155-160.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Finklestein D, Wu AW, Holtzman NA, et al. When a physician harms a patient by a medical error: ethical, legal and risk-management considerations. J Clin Ethics. 1997;8(4):300-335.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Guidelines for ethical patient safety practices in today’s rapidly changing, complex environment. www.asds.net/GuidelinesForEthicalPatientSafetyPractices.aspx.

  6. Standards of perioperative clinical practice in laser medicine and surgery. www.aslms.org.

  7. Raulin C, Greve B, Raulin S. Ethical considerations concerning laser medicine. Lasers Surg Med. 2001;28:100-101.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Wagner RF, Brown T, McCarthy EM, et al. Dermatologist and electrologist perspectives on laser procedures by nonphysicians. Dermatol Surg. 2000;26(8):723-727.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Administrative regulations: code of medical ethics for dermatologists. www.aad.org. 2006.

  10. Williams HC, Naidi L, Paul C. Conflicts of interest in dermatology. Acta Derm Venerol. 2006;86(6):485-497.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Newburger A. Taking ethics seriously in cosmetic dermatology. Arch Dermatol. 2006;142:1641-1642.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Goldberg D. Dermatologic surgical research and the institutional review board. Dermatol Surg. 2005;31(10):1317-1322.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Perkins AC, Choi JM, Kimball AB. Reporting of ethical review of clinical research submitted to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007;56(2):279-284.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Sec. 393.200 Laser(s) as Medical Devices for Facelift, Wrinkle Removal, Acupuncture, Auricular Stimulation, etc. (CPG 7133.21). Revised March 1995. www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/cpg/cpgdev/cpg393-200.html

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abel Torres .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Torres, A., Desai, T., Desai, T., Desai, A., Kirby, W., Kirby, W. (2011). Ethical Issues. In: Nouri, K. (eds) Lasers in Dermatology and Medicine. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-281-0_30

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-281-0_30

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-280-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-281-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics