Psychiatry Junior Clerkship
Miscellaneous

MISCELLANEOUS

I. Statement of Expected Professional Performance and Behavior

A standard of professional performance which reflects certain ethical values and attitudes is expected of physicians by society, by co-workers, by physicians themselves, by this faculty, and certainly by patients. The clerkship experience provides an opportunity for the medical student to develop and to demonstrate these values and attitudes. It is expected that such behavior will be exhibited in the student's performance and will be assessed throughout the clerkship.

Violations of these standards of behavior and response to counseling will be noted and incorporated into the student's record. These records may play a role in the final evaluation of the student's performance and the grade assignment. They also may be used for the purpose of determining if remedial work is needed, including repetition of a part of or the entire clerkship.

Excellence in performance and behavior may positively affect a student's final evaluation and assigned grade. Thus, we expect the following from our students:

1. Respect and empathy for the dignity of every patient and co-worker regardless of religion, race, life-style, gender, or psycho-socio-economic status.

2. Respect for patients' rights to privacy and confidentiality in private and professional discussions.

3. Recognition of the rights of patients and their families to be adequately informed about their illness, the goals of treatment, and the potential benefits, risks, and complications. (It is not the responsibility of the student to actually obtain the informed consent.)

4. Demonstration of effort to improve skills in communicating with patients and families.

Skill in communicating with and working with all the other members of the health care team, including peers.

6. Respect for the ability to work harmoniously with other allied health care personnel.

7. Recognition of and demonstration of the importance of constant self-assessment and independent learning.

8. Ability to respond positively and constructively to criticism, constructive feedback, and evaluation of one's performance.

9. Ability to demonstrate self confidence and decisiveness.

10. Honesty and integrity.

11. Responsibility, reliability, and conscientiousness.

12. Appropriate professional deportment and dress.

The following will be regarded as unacceptable:

1. A breach of any of the above principles of behavior.

2. Failure to respect a patient's rights and dignity.

3. Failure to respect the private, political, and/or religious beliefs of the patient and one's co-workers.

4. Deliberate breach of patient privacy or confidentiality.

5. Sexual impropriety with a patient.

6. Deliberate breach of hospital policies.

7. Removal of medical records from the hospital.

8. Falsification of medical records.

9. Misrepresentation of one's role as a student in the care of the patient.

10. Academic dishonesty or plagiarism.

11. Cheating on an examination.

12. Lying and dishonesty.

13. Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

14. Theft of drugs or commission of any felony.

15. Failure to attend, participate, and adequately prepare for scheduled clerkship activities. (If attendance is not possible, the student must provide the department with a justifiable reason.)

16. Failure to be available while on call without making suitable arrangements for coverage.

17. Persistent excuses for non-performance or failure to complete required curricular assignments.

18. Display of poor judgment such as:

a. Administration of any drug to a patient without (written) authorization to do so from an attending physician or staff nurse.

b. Performance of a patient procedure without specific instructions to do from a physician or staff nurse.

c. Failure to report an important clinical finding or change in a patient's condition.

19. Any other conduct unbecoming or inappropriate of a health care professional.