PERCEPTIONS OF MEDICAL ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM AMONG PRACTICING PHYSICIANS OF AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR: A MIX-METHOD STUDY OF ETHICAL DILEMMAS

Background: The evolving nature of clinical practice, patient interactions, and advancements in medical technology may influence how practicing physicians perceive and apply medical ethics and professionalism. Aim: Therefore, this study assessed how factors such as experience, specialization, and frequency of ethical dilemmas and modern challenges shape physicians' views on ethics and professionalism. Methodology: A mix-method survey-based study was conducted among practicing physicians in Azad Jammu and Kashmir using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire assessing perceptions of medical ethics and professionalism. Results: The demographic distribution showed that participants were evenly split between the 31-40 and 41-50 age groups (30% each), with males comprising 50% and females 40% of the sample. Most had 2-5 years (30%) of practice. General practitioners made up 30% while hospitals were the most common workplace (45%). The study found that physicians ranked non-maleficence (mean = 3.25) as the top ethical principle. There were notable links between medical specialty and views on non-maleficence, and between years of practice and both autonomy and non-maleficence. Common ethical dilemmas included patient confidentiality (68.8%) and informed consent (62.5%). Although 75% of physicians received ethics training during medical school, only 43.8% engaged in ongoing ethics-focused professional development. Key challenges included managing conflicts of interest, addressing cultural and religious sensitivities, and handling unethical behavior by colleagues. Conclusion: In conclusion, physicians prioritized non-maleficence, with significant links between years of practice, medical specialty, and ethical views. Future research should explore how targeted ethics training can further enhance ethical decision-making across specialties.