Do doctors actually have a moral code?

I’ve been chewing on a question lately regarding medical ethics. Are doctors inherently hypocritical? On one hand, there’s this heavy emphasis on "humanity" and the Hippocratic Oath, but on the other, we see blatant corruption, bribery, malpractice, and physicians acting as mere tools for political regimes—ranging from the dark history of reproductive controls in Romania to American doctors participating in the interrogation of enemy combatants.

To paint a picture of how far things can slide, look at what happened during the Ceaușescu era in Romania:
Birth control was banned and women were forced to undergo a monthly gynecological examination to detect pregnancies, which were then duly registered. Birth quotas were established and couples were penalized if they did not have children after two years of marriage. The birth rate in Romania quickly doubled. Women began resorting to illegal abortion, and the birthrate soon fell to near its previous level. Unwanted children were left in state orphanages where many perished under appalling conditions. Maternal mortality doubled and gynecological injuries to women who had unsafe abortions also grew, resulting in the involuntary sterilization of 10 percent of Romanian women.

I honestly think most people are just flesh and blood, just like anyone else—no better or worse than the rest of us... The real issue seems to be this deep-seated frustration after years of intense schooling and getting paid peanuts. It makes some feel like they deserve more, so they start looking for shortcuts through those "under-the-table" payments.... But I don't think that's how the majority of people behave within the public sector, which is honestly a nightmare (it’s pretty inhumane toward the patients, the doctors, and the entire staff alike).

Honestly, what does Romania have to do with us right now? 🙄
I always find myself questioning your sources, though I really don't feel like fact-checking them today!

Anyway, I’m on the same page as Casey Palmer5
And I truly believe most people out there are honest and decent folks.
It's easy to fall into that trap where one bad actor ruins it for everyone else—it makes the "villains" seem way worse than they actually are.
Plus, our healthcare system is a complete mess right now, but from my perspective, the real issue lies with all those people who constantly push medical staff around.
But hey, once you experience the healthcare systems in more advanced countries firsthand, you realize how much we struggle here. 👍

When we talk about medical ethics, my take is that a huge chunk of doctors just get swallowed up by the general gray area of our society and its overall sense of "morality." There’s really nothing special about them that breaks out of those standard social boundaries.
Of course, I give credit where it's due to those who actually call this behavior out, but even they are part of a society that’s riddled with immorality and dishonesty at every single turn.

I wouldn't go so far as to say they are more immoral than the average person, but there are definitely other things I find frustrating about doctors.
Specifically, some of them just get jaded over the years and end up delivering diagnoses to patients with absolutely zero empathy. On the flip side, you have those who won't tell you anything at all, or they act totally nonchalant and indifferent, or—equally exhausting—they overreact and make everything a massive drama.

At the end of the day, you're dealing with someone who is sick, and the absolute last thing you need is that kind of attitude.

I've encountered wonderful physicians, certainly, but I've also dealt with this:

During a gynecological ultrasound, the doctor was just dictating to the nurse—"right ovary blah blah, left one isn't visible"
Me: "Wait, what do you mean by that?"
Him: "Go ask your gynecologist," he says, before practically ushering me out the door.

I went home in tears thinking I was missing an ovary, even though I knew perfectly well I had both. I started wondering, where did the other one go??? So, I went to a private specialist, and there it was on the scan, perfectly healthy and right where it should be.

Then there was the ophthalmologist who casually tossed out that I might have MS. This same genius told another patient just a month prior that she was going blind—all while he was mid-bite of a snack.

Or another ultrasound where the doctor dictates to the nurse that I have a "lesion" on my liver (and there I am, lying there listening, treated like a mannequin since nobody bothers to speak to me). I’m sitting there wondering what on earth he means by "lesion"—is it cancer or what...? It turned out to be nothing.

And then you have those doctors who ask why you're even bothering them when you're fine, but then when you come back a second time (feeling like death), they snap at you, asking why you're being such a nuisance!

It’s all subjective, really—I think you get what you give when it comes to doctors. If someone is just a genuinely good person with solid character, that’s going to shine through and serve as a massive asset in their practice. I also feel it's incredibly important for doctors to be decent "psychologists" in their own right—knowing how to steady a patient or lift their spirits when they need it most. If someone lacks backbone or basic empathy, then regardless of their technical expertise, how much they studied, or their advanced certifications, they’ll just be a medical technician. They might know the science, but they'll never be one of those truly great physicians who heals through their presence, their bedside manner, and that certain psychological "impact" they have on a patient...

Following those stories about doctors—I’ve got one of my own... It really makes you wonder how someone can grind through such an intense medical program, spend years specializing, and still end up being such a terrible, tactless communicator...

A few years back, I went to see my private OB-GYN for a routine checkup and an annual Pap smear... No issues at all, nothing wrong, just the usual maintenance...
So, I’m lying there on the table, he starts the exam and says: "Hmm, I felt something on your ovary, we need to take a look with an ultrasound"... And honestly? I was done. I practically died right then and there. He calls the nurse in quite dramatically and tells her, "Can you help me out? I found something on the ovary"... At that point, I grabbed the nurse's hand so hard, shaking like a leaf from pure fear... and I wasn't letting go. She was the only thing keeping me grounded. Then, while they’re looking at the ultrasound, the doctor—totally nonchalant, stone-cold—just says: "Yeah, that's what I thought, it's just a follicle, you're ovulating! So, if you're planning on having sex today and don't want to get pregnant—be careful."

Good grief, I almost lost it on him. "That's what I thought!"... Seriously? You could have just told me immediately, you idiot, that it was most likely a follicle or ovulation. Instead, you go with, "Hmm, I felt SOMETHING on the ovary." Or better yet, just stay quiet until the ultrasound is actually finished.

I paid my bill, walked out of the office, and my legs were still shaking from the shock for an hour afterward. I haven't stepped foot in that tactless doctor's office since; I switched OB-GYNs immediately.

I ended up voting for option B. To me, it feels like people are fundamentally just human beings, but when you’re in a profession that demands such high moral accountability, it creates this environment where the temptation to be unethical is much higher... And obviously, the more experience someone gains in those roles, the more likely they are to encounter—or succumb to—those kinds of situations.

I really agree with what was said above; at the end of the day, a doctor is only as good as the person behind the white coat...

Speaking from my own experience, I can tell you that people have indirectly tried to solicit money from me for two different surgeries... and yeah, they got it. It almost feels like we carry some of the blame for "training" doctors to expect those cash envelopes, but when a life is actually on the line, nobody is thinking about money—except, ironically, the doctors themselves... I'd like to think those types are in the minority, but they definitely exist...

It’s true that doctors are just people, which means you're going to find both the good ones and the bad ones. Personally, what bugs me is how most of them act like they're some kind of gods who aren't allowed to make mistakes, and then they refuse to actually explain a diagnosis to you... I'm speaking from experience here—if you ask too many questions, they take it personally. It's like you're supposed to just blindly follow whatever they say, and if you don't, they immediately think you're disrespecting their expertise instead of just being a human being looking for answers. But then, the second a proven mistake happens (and honestly, they hate admitting to mistakes even when they're obvious), they suddenly pull the "we're only human" card!

My personal observations:
- They rarely communicate effectively with patients (the typical "you won't understand anyway" or "I don't have time for small talk" excuse)
- An air of arrogance is incredibly common
- They tend to play the victim the moment a patient disagrees with them
- There is always a sense of rushing; they claim to be too busy for the patient, yet somehow always find plenty of time for coffee breaks and idle gossip
- They hate letting patients participate in their own care; they’d much rather just dictate everything
- When deciding on a treatment plan, they often prioritize their own convenience over the patient's needs (for example: "I'm going on vacation tomorrow, so we're doing it this way...")
- They couldn't care less about how long people are waiting; there's zero effort made to actually reduce the backlog
- They try to keep medical procedures opaque, ensuring doctors make all the calls without any accountability—it’s basically a perfect setup for corruption
- A basic level of human empathy is sorely lacking
- I've seen them Google symptoms and then dismiss serious conditions with a casual "oh, that's nothing, you aren't going to die from that"
- They show very little interest in the patient's long-term well-being
- They frequently prioritize self-promotion and politics over patient care (sure, a Senator or a news crew can get VIP access to the maternity ward, but a new mother's husband isn't allowed in)

I can't help but wonder if all this aggression is just a front to mask their own insecurities regarding their knowledge and capabilities?

silverfalcon7 said:Speaking from my own experience—and I suppose this is a bit of a confession—I can tell you they essentially nudged us toward paying extra for two different procedures... and, well, they got what they wanted. It almost feels as though we bear some level of responsibility ourselves by "conditioning" doctors to expect those little cash envelopes, doesn't it? Yet, when a life is actually on the line, nobody really stops to consider the cost—except, quite ironically, the doctors themselves... I suspect such individuals are in the minority, but they certainly exist...

But how does that "indirect" solicitation actually play out in practice? What is the specific phrasing they use? If you tell them you simply don't have the funds available, do they suddenly change their tune, or...?

I had this one experience regarding this topic that honestly left a permanent mark on my life, and it was just awful. I don't want to be too specific right now, but I had to undergo a surgery at a hospital that I really shouldn't have had. Back then, I was still a minor, and the doctor told both me and my mom that it was just some "minor thing" we needed to take care of.
After the procedure, I realized he’d actually messed something up. We asked him several times to explain what happened, but he just insisted I was imagining things. Later on, four different doctors reviewed everything and proved he was wrong with actual evidence! So yeah, ever since then, I definitely don't just blindly trust doctors!

Rachel Torres said:I had an experience regarding this topic that left a lasting mark on my life. It was horrific. I don't want to be overly specific, at least not right now. I underwent a hospital procedure that wasn't even necessary, but the doctor told my mother—and me, since I was a minor then—that it was just a "minor issue" and we should go through with it.
After the surgery, I realized he had botched something. We asked him multiple times to explain what he actually did, but he insisted I was imagining things. Later, four other doctors proved his error with hard evidence. So, ever since then, I don't blindly trust doctors.

Don't put blind faith in white coats.
I opted for laser vision correction, and they ruined my eyes so badly that my optic nerve weakened—those clamps they use before the laser hit are far too tight. I ended up seeing specialists at the Mayo Clinic who determined there were several contraindications for my eye surgery. First, I was too young; my prescription hadn't stabilized yet. Second, I had significant astigmatism, which laser surgery can't even address.
The aftermath is that even today, especially when straining, I get occasional flashes and stinging sensations. Not to mention I had to wear protective lenses. It was a nightmare.
Then there were the assurances from the doctors who messed me up—those greedy private ophthalmologists who value their management bonuses over their medical ethics👎—insisting that the symptoms I was enduring were perfectly normal...
Horrifying. I owe a debt of gratitude to the doctors at Mount Sinai; they saved me.

Another thing: an orthodontist—I'd rather not name him here—convinced me to get "latest generation invisible braces" on my upper jaw, the kind placed behind the teeth, for a perfect smile. I agreed. It was a disaster; felt like having a locomotive in my mouth. I am almost too ashamed to say how much money he took from me.

POINT: Let’s not be naive. Research everything thoroughly before any procedure.
Unfortunately, for some doctors, their code of ethics isn't the priority.

- they just don't communicate enough with patients—you know, saying stuff like "they won't understand anyway" or "I don't have time for this kind of talk,"
maybe it's because they're working solo shifts where they have to see something like 120 patients in a single day—not even exaggerating here
- they can be pretty arrogant sometimes, too I mean, anyone in any profession can be like that, I guess, but hopefully they're in the minority
- they act all offended if a patient doesn't agree with them and honestly, patients are often wrong... though I can't say that's always the case
- they’re always in such a rush and seem to have zero time for the patient, yet somehow find plenty of time for coffee breaks and chatting—just wasting time as if it’s better to take on 40 more people on top of those 120 and skip their coffee break, let alone lunch, God forbid
- they don't really like letting patients make decisions; they'd rather just decide everything themselves
- when it comes to treatment plans, they often prioritize their own interests over the patient's—like, "Oh, I'm going on vacation tomorrow, so let's just do this now..."
- they don't seem to care how long people are waiting, and they don't really try to shorten the lines at all go ahead and suggest a way to fix the wait times, and I bet you'll get nothing but negativity until our messy government actually fixes the healthcare system. we're so short-staffed, it's basically impossible to get rid of the waiting lists

I don't want to comment on everything—some things are definitely true, but you shouldn't generalize... they're all human beings and most of them do an amazing job, especially considering the conditions in public hospitals. It's actually pretty impressive how they manage to stay sane at all
there are bad ones, for sure, but whenever this topic comes up, someone always jumps in to trash the entire profession without considering the state of our healthcare system at much higher levels than just one doctor

I’m not sure if this is 100% accurate, but I heard that back in ancient Rome, doctors used to receive regular retainers—basically guaranteed payments while their patients were still healthy. If the patient actually got sick, the income stopped, but the doctor was still obligated to provide treatment.

In our modern, "civilized" world, everything is flipped on its head. You pay the doctor—whether it's a private specialist, an out-of-network provider, or through your insurance co-pay—only once you're already sick. Because of that, it’s incredibly profitable for physicians, Big Pharma, medical device manufacturers, and everyone else tied to the industry for patients to stay sick as long as possible... just so they can keep billing.

It’s probably in none of their interests for natural remedies, cheaper treatment methods, or low-cost generics to exist. If those became the norm, the profit margins would vanish.

People are weak. They want a "magic pill" to fix them instantly without ever touching their diet or managing their stress levels. That’s where the powerful alliance between doctors and pharmaceutical companies steps in, and everyone stays perfectly happy with the status quo.

At the end of the day, doctors are just humans, and humans are flawed. It’s no surprise that some succumb to the pressure and start seeing dollar signs instead of the actual person standing in front of them.

Regardless, health is a massive business. People will throw every cent they have at it just to stay healthy, capable of working, and ALIVE.