Building esprit de corps: learning to better navigate between "my" patient and "our" patient
DeRenzo, E.G.; Schwartz, J.
Journal of Clinical Ethics 21(3): 232-237
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1046-7890 PMID: 21089994 Document Number: 639454
Excellence in the care of hospital patients, particularly those in an intensive care unit, reflects esprit de corps among the care team. Esprit de corps depends on a delicate balance; each clinician must preserve a sense of personal responsibility for "my" patient and yet participate in the collaborative work essential to the care of "our" patient. A harmful imbalance occurs when a physician demands total control of the decision-making process, especially concerning end-of-life treatment options. Although emotional factors may push a physician to claim decision-making exclusivity, compounded by a legal framework that overemphasizes individual responsibility, esprit de corps can be preserved through timely communication among clinicians and a recognition that optimal care for "my" patient requires effective team practice.