@article {Bringedalmedethics-2017-104408, author = {Berit Bringedal and Karin Isaksson R{\o} and Morten Magelssen and Reidun F{\o}rde and Olaf Gjerl{\o}v Aasland}, title = {Between professional values, social regulations and patient preferences: medical doctors{\textquoteright} perceptions of ethical dilemmas}, elocation-id = {medethics-2017-104408}, year = {2017}, doi = {10.1136/medethics-2017-104408}, publisher = {Institute of Medical Ethics}, abstract = {Background We present and discuss the results of a Norwegian survey of medical doctors{\textquoteright} views on potential ethical dilemmas in professional practice.Methods The study was conducted in 2015 as a postal questionnaire to a representative sample of 1612 doctors, among which 1261 responded (78\%). We provided a list of 41 potential ethical dilemmas and asked whether each was considered a dilemma, and whether the doctor would perform the task, if in a position to do so. Conceptually, dilemmas arise because of tensions between two or more of four doctor roles: the patient{\textquoteright}s advocate, a steward of societal interests, a member of a profession and a private individual.Results 27 of the potential dilemmas were considered dilemmas by at least 50\% of the respondents. For more than half of the dilemmas, the anticipated course of action varied substantially within the professional group, with at least 20\% choosing a different course than their colleagues, indicating low consensus in the profession.Conclusions Doctors experience a large range of ethical dilemmas, of which many have been given little attention by academic medical ethics. The less-discussed dilemmas are characterised by a low degree of consensus in the profession about how to handle them. There is a need for medical ethicists, medical education, postgraduate courses and clinical ethics support to address common dilemmas in clinical practice. Viewing dilemmas as role conflicts can be a fruitful approach to these discussions.}, issn = {0306-6800}, URL = {https://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2017/11/18/medethics-2017-104408}, eprint = {https://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2017/11/18/medethics-2017-104408.full.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Medical Ethics} }