Doctors and the Ethics of Money in Medicine: A Look at Fertility Treatments

Medicine has long been entangled with money, sparking debates on ethics. Most discussions focus on doctors interacting with pharmaceutical companies, but let's explore another side: the role of commerce in healthcare delivery. Take Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), for instance. It's mostly handled in the private sector. So, what duties do doctors have to push back against the unhealthy impact of money in healthcare? ART is a great example because it's been private-sector driven. Let's break down some key ideas: complicity, giving in, willful ignorance, unintentional ignorance, and deceit. These help us understand when doctors should resist commercial pressure. Next, we'll see how doctors can check questionable behavior among colleagues, clinics, and within their profession. It's not just about individual action; teams and regulators also play a part.