Professional Standards and Ethics

Few things in life afford more pleasure than that of a job well done. Medical professionals know this and are committed to offering patients high-quality service, genuine caring, respect, personal integrity and ethical conduct. This requires not only skill and dedication but also up-to-date knowledge of the field, sound judgment and reasonable strength of character. As never before, modern psychiatrists must be able to keep abreast of new scientific information, of changes in societal values and expectations, and of constantly evolving patterns of standards and practice. No longer are patients willing to accept a passive role with regard to their medical care. Enhanced access to information and the increasing emphasis on shared responsibility and physician accountability have created new challenges for patients and caregivers alike. We as psychiatrists can respond to these challenges by developing practice standards based on the latest scientific evidence and by stimulating meaningful discussion of important issues among experienced practitioners. The Bulletin will be publishing articles related to professional standards and ethics on a regular basis throughout the year—articles that will be timely, relevant and practical. Some will reflect current best practice, others will offer informed opinion, and some, we hope, will stimulate lively discussion and debate. We look forward to your responses, contributions and creative ideas to make this section interesting, thought-provoking and clinically useful. The first article in this series has been provided by Dr. Joel Paris, Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at McGill University. Dr. Paris was a proponent of evidence-based medicine long before it became fashionable. He discusses aspects of evidence-based medicine that apply specifically to psychiatry. We hope that you will enjoy reading his paper and that you will reply with some of your own views and opinions.