Positive Medicine Credo: A Higher Calling

Posted on | December 24, 2014 | Comments Off on Positive Medicine Credo: A Higher Calling

Mike Magee

I was recently asked about the Medical Journalism Code of Ethics referenced in JAMA in 1992. One of the grounding documents on which that Code was based was the original Positive Medicine Credo which I wrote in 1986. Rereading it now, some two decades later, I believe it remains relevant as a series of guide posts for caring individuals of every persuasion who believe that their choice to respond to others in need involves “a higher calling”. I offer it to you in this Giving Season as an opportunity for reflection and a starting point for renewed commitment in 2015. Happy New Year!

POSITIVE MEDICINE CREDO:

PATIENT-CENTERED: As health professionals, we are committed to a patient-centered, pride-filled approach to the organization and delivery of healthcare.
PROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION: We promote collaborative processes based in shared education, language, and tools.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP: We are community servants who believe in equal access to health information and healthcare for all.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: We recognize our imperfections and constantly strive to improve our performance, seeking humanistic and scientific solutions that ensure positive and coordinate outcomes.
PROFESSIONAL POSITIVITY: We are committed to personal revitalization, recognizing our responsibility to provide hope and reassurance to all those we serve and to promote courage, strength and positive attitudes