The clinician as patient advocate

This article presents alternative strategies to traditional methods of patient advocacy. These alternative strategies are designed to improve the quality of patient care by appealing to the clinician's sense of ethical reasoning and responsibility rather than being strictly driven by the legal system. The author appeals to the clinician to effect an organization that encourages professional debate, promotes client:clinician communication, and builds an ethical culture within the workplace. By acknowledging patient's rights, clinician's duty, and institutional responsibility, clinician's are better prepared to engage in behaviors that encourage trust and collaboration between one another and their clients.