Author/Editor		Larkin, Gregory Luke; Ludwig, Todd E
Title		The ethics of teamwork in emergency and disaster medicine: the centrality of virtue
Translated title		Etični vidiki timskega dela v urgentni in katastrofni medicini
Type		članek
Source		In: Bručan A, Gričar M, editors. Urgentna medicina: izbrana poglavja 3. Zbornik 4. mednarodni simpozij o urgentni medicini; 1997 jun 18-21; Portorož. Ljubljana: Slovensko združenje za urgentno medicino,
Publication year		1997
Volume		str. 151-62
Language		eng
Abstract		The ethics of teamwork is, in essence, an ethics of virtue. Virtue, or character, is an integral part of the classic notion of what it means to be a good person. The current moral malaise in modern health care stems, in part, from a deficiency of virtue. At a time in which the integrity of the health professions is perceptibly challenged, emergency health care providers have a tremendous opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to both their patients and their practice through the adoption of a virtuebased ethic of teamwork. The virtue paradigm transcends legalistic rule-following and the blind application of principles; instead, virtue honors the humanity of our patients and colleagues and the goodness of our speciality. We present the common barriers to effective teamwork and describe the cardinal virtues of teamwork in emergency and disaster medicine as those qualities and dispositions that characterize the ideal team player. Seven virtues that express the uniqueness of the emergency health-care team member are offered: prudence, non judgment, self-effacement, compassion, trustworthiness, resilience and communication. Truly realized, these virtues can transform emergency workers from a state of mere competence to a state of sheer excellence.
Descriptors		EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ETHICS, MEDICAL LEGISLATION COMMUNICATION EMPATHY