BACKGROUND: Occupational physicians (OPs) have complex relationships with employees, employers, and the general public. OPs may have simultaneous obligations towards third parties, which can lead to variable conflicts of interests. Among the various studies of ethical issues related to OPs, few have focused on the Korean OPs. The aim of the present survey was to investigate the ethical contexts, the practical resolutions, and the ethical principles for the Korean OPs. METHODS: An email with a self-administered questionnaire was sent to members of the Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, comprising 150 specialists and 130 residents. The questionnaire was also distributed to 52 specialists and 46 residents who attended the annual meeting of the Korean Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics in October 2015, and to 240 specialists by uploading the questionnaire to the online community ‘oem-doctors’ in February 2016. The responses to each question (perception of general ethical conflicts, recognition of various ethical codes for OPs, core professional values in ethics of occupational medicine, and a mock case study) were compared between specialists and residents by the chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test. RESULTS: Responses were received from 80 specialists and 71 residents. Most participants had experienced ethical conflicts at work and felt the need for systematic education and training. OPs suffered the most ethical conflicts in decisions regarding occupational health examination and evaluation for work relatedness. Over 60% of total participants were unaware of the ethical codes of other countries. Participants thought ‘consideration of worker’s health and safety’ (26.0%) and ‘neutrality’ (24.7%) as the prominent ethical values in professionality ofoccupational medicine. In mock cases, participants chose beneficence and justice for fitness for work and confidential information acquired while on duty, and beneficence and respect for autonomy in pre-placement examinations. CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluated the current perception of and attitude toward ethical issues among the Korean OPs. These findings will facilitate the development of a code of ethics and the ethical decision-making program forthe Korean OPs. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40557-017-0182-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Beneficence ; Codes of Ethics ; Confidentiality ; Education ; Electronic Mail ; Environmental Medicine ; Ethics* ; Occupational Health ; Occupational Medicine ; Social Justice ; Specialization

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate various factors associated with the willingness to visit psychiatric clinics among the general adult population in Bucheon city, South Korea. METHODS: One thousand seventy-five adults completed a self-questionnaire assessing their willingness to visit psychiatric clinics, family history of mental illnesses, frequency of contact with the mentally ill, stigma and discrimination toward the mentally ill, and the Community Attitude toward the Mentally Ill (CAMI). Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify variables associated with the willingness to visit psychiatric clinics. RESULTS: Study results showed that being single was associated with reduced willingness to visit psychiatric clinics. Subjects who had more frequent contact with mentally ill patients were more willing to visit psychiatric clinics. Concerning the CAMI scale, higher scores in authoritarianism and lower scores in benevolence subscales were associated with greater willingness to visit psychiatric clinic. Subjects who strongly admitted the existence of the stigma, and discrimination, toward mentally ill patients were more willing to visit psychiatric clinics. CONCLUSION: Enhanced understanding of the factors associated with the willingness to visit psychiatric clinics would be helpful in reducing barriers to mental health services utilization in the community.
Adult* ; Ambulatory Care ; Authoritarianism ; Beneficence ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mental Health ; Mental Health Services ; Mentally Ill Persons

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) has often been cited as the basis for the abolition of involuntary hospitalization for persons with mental illness. Although the UNCRPD itself does not refer explicitly to the abolition of involuntary hospitalization, the General Comment prohibited all compulsory admission without adequate explanation. While the disability status alone may not justify the denial of legal capacity, the existence of impaired decision-making ability can raise issues regarding whether involuntary admission can be justified in the best interest of persons with mental illness. The General Comment, however, argues that involuntary admission does not comply with the CRPD which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disabilities. This statement defies logic since the issue is whether the existence of impaired decision-making ability may be an exceptional case. It is also against the principles of beneficence to withhold treatment for persons with mental illness just for self-determination when poor outcomes are anticipated if left untreated. The concept of supported decision making suggested by the General Comment is also ambiguous, and not clearly distinguishable from substitute decision making. Another reason for the prohibition of involuntary admission relates to doubt concerning the accuracy of assessment of mental capacity, which implies adequate assessment may justify involuntary admission. In practice, it is not always complicated to assess mental capacity in order to make treatment-related decisions. The third reason concerns the argument that psychiatric treatments lack empirical evidence concerning effectiveness. Scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of psychiatric treatment is abundant. The rights of persons with mental illness are important ethical issues. However, it is doubtful whether the blanket prohibition of compulsory admission is appropriate and ethical. Critical review of the UNCRPD and the General Comment is urgent for timely treatment and for the well-being of persons with mental illness.
Beneficence ; Decision Making ; Denial (Psychology) ; Disabled Persons* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Ethics ; Evaluation Studies as Topic* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Logic ; United Nations*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of human rights sensitivity and social distance in psychiatric hospital orderlies on attitudes toward mental illness, including authoritarianism, benevolence, social restrictiveness, and community mental health ideology. METHODS: Participants were 201 psychiatric hospital orderlies working in one national mental hospital or one of 10 private mental hospitals. Data were collected from May 9 to June 22, 2016. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and hierarchical multiple regression using the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. RESULTS: Human rights sensitivity and social distance were statistically significant predictors for the attitude toward mental illness in psychiatric hospital orderlies. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that human rights sensitivity and social distance explained an additional 23% of authoritarianism, 16% of benevolence, 35% of social restrictiveness and 29% of community mental health ideology. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that education programs to increase levels of human rights sensitivity and reduce the levels of social distance among psychiatric hospital orderlies would improve their attitude toward patients with the mental illness.
Authoritarianism ; Beneficence ; Education ; Hospitals, Psychiatric* ; Human Rights* ; Humans* ; Mental Health ; Psychiatric Aides* ; Social Distance*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the paths of influence that a hospital's ethical climate exerts on nurses' organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior, with supervisor trust as the mediating factor, and verify compatibility of the models in hospital nurses. METHODS: The sample consisted of 374 nurses recruited from four hospitals in 3 cities in Korea. The measurements included the Ethical Climate Questionnaire, Supervisor Trust Questionnaire, Organizational Commitment Questionnaire and Organizational Citizenship Behavior Questionnaire. Ethical Climate Questionnaire consisted of 6 factors; benevolence, personal morality, company rules and procedures, laws and professional codes, self-interest and efficiency. Data were analysed using SPSS version 18.0 and AMOS version 18.0. RESULTS: Supervisor trust was explained by benevolence and self-interest (29.8%). Organizational commitment was explained by benevolence, supervisor trust, personal morality, and rules and procedures (40.4%). Organizational citizenship behavior was explained by supervisor trust, laws and codes, and benevolence (21.8%). CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that managers need to develop a positive hospital ethical climate in order to improve nurses' trust in supervisors, organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior.
Beneficence ; Climate* ; Efficiency, Organizational ; Ethics ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Morals ; Negotiating

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with the social distance attitudes of nursing students towards adults with mental disorders. The relationship between social distance and attitudes toward adults with mental disorders was also examined. METHODS: A descriptive research was conducted to describe the characteristics of the population and the data were collected from September 22 to October 2, 2014. The sample included 359 participants. Social distance was measured by a modified version of the Social Distance Scale and CAMI was used to assess attitudes towards adults with mental disorders. RESULTS: Participants showed less authoritarian, more benevolence, less social restrictiveness in attitudes towards adults with mental disorders. The participants also showed a positive community mental health ideology. More importantly, the attitudes towards people with mental disorders was the strongest predictor (β=.67), explaining 35% of the social distance. CONCLUSION: With a deeper understanding of social distance as related to attitudes towards people with mental disorders, it is possible to create targeted interventions with the overall goal of minimizing the social distance and authoritarianism and of facilitating benevolence among nursing students.
Adult* ; Authoritarianism ; Beneficence ; Humans ; Mental Disorders* ; Mental Health ; Nursing* ; Social Distance* ; Students, Nursing*

There are four principles of medical ethics; Beneficence, Respect for autonomy, Non-maleficence, and Justice. It is not easy to apply to principles of medical ethics in the special circumstances of obstetrics and gynecology. Student doctors must learn to be familiar with principles of medical ethics tailored to the special circumstances while the obstetrics and gynecology practice.
Beneficence ; Education, Medical* ; Ethics* ; Ethics, Medical ; Gynecology* ; Humans ; Obstetrics* ; Social Justice

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors influencing adjustment during army life after analyzing the relationship among relational self, community attitudes toward the mentally ill (CAMI), and adjustment during army life in Korea. METHODS: A cross sectional study design was conducted with 230 soldiers from two military units located in Y and B cities. Data were analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: Empathy-care showed significantly positive correlations with adjustment during army life. Avoidance of relationships showed significantly negative correlations with adjustment. Negative concepts in CAMI, such as authoritarianism and social restrictiveness, became were getting more negative. Positive concepts in CAMI, such as benevolence and community mental health ideology, were lacking. Significant factors were empathy-care, authoritarianism, overdependence on relations, and social restrictiveness which explained 30.1% (F=8.55, p<.001) of adjustment during army life. CONCLUSION: To improve military adjustment for soldiers, it is necessary to reduce misunderstandings of people with mentally illness as well as to make efforts towards systematic interpersonal relationship interventions for positive evaluation of self and others to enhance the mental health of soldiers.
Authoritarianism ; Beneficence ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Mentally Ill Persons* ; Military Personnel ; Self Psychology* ; Social Adjustment

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the teachers' attitudes, discrimination, and causes of prejudice towards people with mental illnesses. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used and participants included 158 teachers who were recruited from four schools in S and G cities, Korea. From October to December, 2011, data on general characteristics, attitudes, discrimination and causes of prejudice towards people with mental illnesses were collected using self-administered questionnaires. SPSS/WIN 18.0 version was used for descriptive analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: The mean scores of teachers' attitudes towards people with mental illness were, authoritarianism, 3.24, benevolence, 2.96, social restrictiveness, 3.44 and community mental health ideology, 2.75. There were significant differences in benevolence according to age. The experience of meeting people with mental illness contributed to positive attitudes towards people with mental illness in the benevolence subscale. There were significant differences in social restrictiveness according to residence. There were significant differences in discrimination according to age. Subscales of attitudes were significantly correlated with discrimination. CONCLUSION: These results emphasize a need for continuous education not only of teachers but also of the general population.
Authoritarianism ; Beneficence ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Disorders ; Mental Health ; Prejudice ; Surveys and Questionnaires

In medicine, it is the physician's obligation to promote and protect the patient's interest. In obstetrics, the ethical principles of beneficence and autonomy provide the fundamental framework which guides the management of all pregnant patients. As there is the need for consideration of the fetus, autonomy can become a complex issue giving rise to what is sometimes called "maternal-fetal conflict." In this paper, we aim to discuss some scenarios we encounter in our day-to-day obstetric practice such as pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and labour induction when the best interests of the mother and fetus may be conflicted. We hope to illustrate that logical consideration for maternal and fetal best interests is only possible when there is adequate knowledge to support clinical practice. Certainly, with the rapid availability of newer knowledge and technology, it is the duty of the physician to be educated continuously so as to protect the patient from harm.
Beneficence ; Clinical Competence ; Conflict (Psychology) ; Ethics, Medical ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Fetus ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Maternal Welfare ; Maternal-Fetal Relations ; Obstetrics ; ethics ; methods ; Patient Care ; ethics ; Patient Rights ; Personal Autonomy ; Physician-Patient Relations ; ethics ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Prenatal Diagnosis