What does altruism mean?

What does altruism mean?

• A. On-call obligation
• B. The concern to meet the needs of the patient by being willing to sacrifice your own or providing the best possible care for the patient regardless of ability to pay
• C. The commitment to maintain patient confidentiality
• D. The process of continuing medical education

Answer: (B)

Altruism means putting the patient’s needs first and being willing to sacrifice your own time, resources, or comfort to provide the best possible care, even when payment or personal cost is a consideration. In medical practice, this reflects a selfless concern for patients’ welfare and a commitment to act in their best interest, regardless of personal gain. That idea is captured by the option describing meeting patient needs by sacrificing your own or delivering the best care regardless of the ability to pay. The other choices describe duties or concepts not centered on selfless patient care—on-call obligation is a duty of service, confidentiality is about privacy, and continuing medical education is about ongoing professional development.

Altruism means putting the patient’s needs first and being willing to sacrifice your own time, resources, or comfort to provide the best possible care, even when payment or personal cost is a consideration. In medical practice, this reflects a selfless concern for patients’ welfare and a commitment to act in their best interest, regardless of personal gain. That idea is captured by the option describing meeting patient needs by sacrificing your own or delivering the best care regardless of the ability to pay. The other choices describe duties or concepts not centered on selfless patient care—on-call obligation is a duty of service, confidentiality is about privacy, and continuing medical education is about ongoing professional development.