b'3.Thefourfundamentalpillarsofadvertising, and all other forms ofofnegligentormaliciousharm medical ethicsautonomy, benefi- coercion. donetothembyanyphysicians, cence, non-maleficence, and justice6.Beneficencerequiresthatalltreat- health care systems, public healthare essential to medical practicements given to a patient should beofficials, or producers of drugs or and must be observed at all timesdone only when the prospect, inten- other health care products. No one byallphysicians,nurses,publiction,andlikelihoodofprovidinginvolvedinthehealthcareenter-health officials, researchers, manu- genuine benefit to that patient ex- prisemaybeimmune,andlaws facturers, and all others involved inists. There must be no taking oneproviding such immunity must be health care. for the team. removed.Dr.Bakeraddsfurtherimportant7. Non-maleficence refers to the First,14.Outsideinfluences.Themedical meaningtothephysiciansrolesindonoharmpreceptofmedicalprofessionmusteliminateallun-Medical Freedom and certain elementspractice.Nomedicaltreatmentdue outside influences from its de-that conflict and are abuses of Medicalshould be imposed on any patientcision-makingprocess,including Freedom: that is likely to harm the patient, orfinancial incentives from industry, InthewakeoftheCovid-19ca- where the risk/benefit ratio is nega- privatefoundations,insurance tastrophe, and in light of the innumer- tive for that patient. companies, and unelected interna-able abuses and affronts to basic civil8.Justice requires that both the benefitstional entities.rights that the public health establish- and burdens of medical care must15. The patient-physician partnership. ment and the physicians under thembedistributedequallythroughoutThepatient,workingone-on-one inflicted upon citizens, several deriva- the population. A new emphasis onwiththeirphysician,mustmake tive statements follow. the protection of vulnerable popu- clinical care decisions, with the pa-1.Patientautonomydependsuponlations,especiallychildren,ises- tientreservingultimateauthority informedconsent,confidential- sential. todecide.Clinicalcaredecisions ity,truth-telling,andprotection9. Public health directives that impactmustnotbepredeterminedby against coercion.citizenscivilrightsinanywaygovernmentbureaucrats,statisti-2. Informed consent must be obtainedmust be enacted lawfully throughcalanalyses,industryinfluence, for all health care interventions, in- legislation, not by emergency dec- insurance carriers, or other outside cluding but not limited to invasivelaration or by executive or bureau- influences. procedures, vaccinations, and med- cratic fiat. 16. Protocols. The mandated or coerced ications. To be valid, informed con- 10. Refusal of treatment should neveruse of strict or inflexible protocols sentrequiresacompetentpatientresultinpunishment.Specifically,inmedicalpracticemustbepro-(or a competent proxy representingit must not preclude a patient fromhibited.Variationfromprotocols, the patients best interest) who re- receivingothertreatments,exceptto allow for individualized patient ceives full disclosure, and after un- where the first treatment is an ab- care decisions, must be allowed.derstanding it, voluntarily agrees. solute medical prerequisite for theMostimportantisthatallpeople 3. Confidentiality is central to patientsecond treatment. have the right to secure their health autonomy. Specifically, any health11. Open and honest debate. The med- in the manner they choose. This is the passport type of public health ap- ical profession must allow, and in- very first proclamation of the Medical proachviolatespatientautonomy,deedencourage,openandhonestFreedom Amendment.and must be forbidden. debatewithinitsranks,without 4. Truth-telling. Physicians and healthfear of reprisal. How to Support the officials are duty-bound to tell the12.Censorship,silencing,intimida- Amendmenttruth.Willfuldeviationfromthistion,andpunishmentofphysi- PassageoftheMedicalFreedom violatespatientautonomy,andciansandotherhealthprovidersAmendment is a political issue! Why? mustresultinprofessionaldisci- for making statements contrary toMoneyedinterestsofthepowerful pline. the officially approved or majoritypharmaceuticalindustryseekingits 5.Coercionofanykind,appliedtomedical narrative must be prohib- defeatarethepowerbehindmedi-patientsorhealthcareproviders,ited, under penalty of profession- cal freedoms abuse, and want their violatespatientautonomy.Thisal and/or legal punishment of thegreed-drivencareasthepublics includesbribery,incentivization,censors. onlychoice.MedicalFreedommust threats,blackmail,publicsham- 13.Patientredress.PatientsmustbecomepartoftheUnitedStates ing, scapegoating, exclusion or os- havetherighttoseekrealandConstitution as protection and safetytracization from society, deceptivemeaningfulredressforanykind(Continued on page 28)H ealtHF reedomN ews /w iNter2023 11'