CPHT - College of Physicians and Healers of Terra, The Healer's Guild

The CPHT is a prestigious fledgling organization that provides a governing body of the physicians and healers of Terra. Its primary purpose is to maintain high standards of practice, patient care and consistency of medical standards throughout the Five Cities. Membership is on an annual basis. Members are expected to prove an ongoing ethical practice as well as continued training and learning to ensure an up to date knowledge of their field. Complacency is highly discouraged.

Structure

The organization's structure within the guild:

1. General Annual Membership- A certification signifying that a medical professional has been trained and maintains an appropriate level of care and professionalism
2. Council of the College of Physicians and Healers of Terra- a council of medical professionals from various fields. This council helps to preside over; difficult medical cases, organizing research into various new epidemics and health concerns, review of current medical professionals under their scope and discipline related to malpractice, among other duties
   
   

Culture

The Culture of the CPHT is rooted in the values of community mindedness, Quality, Discipline, Professional conduct and Ingenuity. It is a culture that reveres the individual practice of medicine while maintaining a strict standard of care and regard for their patients. Within the CPHT there is a strong emphasis on teamwork and the long history of medicine on Terra. They value the mastery of their skills and continually strive to perfect the art of medicine.
Collaboration and mentorship are integral to the guild’s culture. While ingenuity and progress are encouraged, this is always done on the lens of the law, both legal and moral. Beginning physicians can learn from more experienced members of the guild, passing down knowledge from one medical professional to another. Collaborative practice is therefore encouraged, though credit is always given to the individuals when credit is due.
Respect for their patients is another important aspect of the guild’s culture. The Guild helps to maintain this through a series of checks and balances, beginning with Registration. Individuals are expected to maintain a continued level of training and research to ensure the most up to date care. Members are also informed as to the legal practices of medicine and to operate appropriately under the scope of the varying cities and their racial needs.
Quality is ensured by the guild through a legislative mandate to ensure consistency across its membership. The guild uses a proactive needs-based approach, which will contribute to improved quality of care, patient safety and will result in significant benefits to patients, providers and ultimately the healthcare system itself.
The guild also works to provide a guide of Professional Conduct. Developing policies to provide guidance to physicians about legislative/regulatory requirements and the expectations of the medical profession.

Medical Ethical Concepts

• Consequentialism- Consequentialism is an ethical ideology that states the morality of an action is dependent purely on its consequences. A simpler way to phrase this would be that the “ends justify the means”. If your action has an overall benefit, then it does not matter about the action itself. Example: Your patient has a terminal illness and is not likely to survive the operation she is about to undertake. Just as she is about to be anesthetized, she asks you: “Doctor, will I be okay?” A consequentialist ideology supports that lying in this circumstance is acceptable, even though lying itself is not a moral action.

• Utilitarianism- Utilitarianism says the best action is that one that brings about the best increase in utility (benefit). Utility is generally considered on a broad scale, often taking into consideration wider society and not just the patient in question. It’s a form of consequentialism. Example: You have a sum of money to either fund a very expensive treatment for one patient with a rare disease or five patients with a very common and easy-to-treat disease. Utilitarian ethics dictates that treating the five patients is morally superior as a greater overall benefit is achieved.

• Deontology- Deontology is also known as “duty-based ethics”. This ideology states that the correct course of action is dependent on what your duties and obligations are. It means that the morality of an action is based on whether you followed the rules, rather than what the consequence of following them was. This is in direct contrast with consequentialism. Example: If your terminally ill patient asks if they’ll be ok after a surgery they’re unlikely to survive, a deontological approach would suggest you don’t lie to comfort them. That’s because according to this concept, lying isn’t morally acceptable because it’s our obligation not to lie – no matter the consequences.

As the approaches to medicine come from varied rulesets and professional backgrounds it is essential to ensure the proper standard of care in a patient first mentality. Breaches of conduct are evaluated by the council. 

Public Agenda

The public agenda of the CPHT is centered around the four pillars of medicine: Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Autonomy and Justice. The guild aims to uphold the highest standards of medical care with a consistency across the various cities of Terra. Moving forward to place itself as a leading authority in the medical fields.

Laws

Laws of the College of Physicians and Healers of Terra

• Medical Ethos should be closely followed to ensure appropriate care
• Where and whenever possible, consent is required in order to provide care to a patient. In the event that this is not possible, a next of kin may be consulted outside of emergency life saving measures.
• Any abilities, disciplines, contracts, gifts or other means of supernaturally enhancing one's abilities, or affecting another must be done with full disclosure to, and consent of, the patient.
• To ensure an appropriate standard of care, professionalism should be maintained at all times.
• Medical care should never be given to a patient for the intent of personal gain

In the event that any of the above mandates are broken, members of the guild will find their certification and qualifications revoked pending an inquiry within the council, as well as potential legal ramifications.

The Oath of the College

• Respect the hard-won gains of one's fellow physicians and healers and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.
• Apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.
• There is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the alchemist's drug.
• Do not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.
• Respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty.
• Remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a growth, but a sick individual, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.
• Prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.
• Remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

Infrastructure

Organizational Structure of the CPHT

General Membership

Recognized Specialists in their Field

Probationary Member of the Council

Council Member

Guild Founder and Conscientious Advisor to the Council 

The Council of the CPHT

The Council of College of Physicians and Healers of Terra (CPHT) is responsible for governing the affairs of CPHT in fulfilling its duty to serve in the public interest. Members of the Council are placed by vote of the general body of physicians and healers with a concern for an appropriate representation from the various scopes of practice. Individuals elected should be respected heads of their field and an overlap of fields and expertise should be discouraged to offer a wide scope of perspective. The Creator of the guild shall sit on the council as a neutral party for the purpose of guidance, breaking tie votes and ensuring the Ethos and nature of the guild continues within it’s vision and mission.
When making decisions, the Council recognizes its obligation to reflect the values and expectations of society in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities which include:

• setting and monitoring the strategic direction of CPHT;
• establishing governing policies which, at the broadest levels, address: definition of executive authority, governance process, the relationship between Council and staff, and Council communication;
• approving statements of principles and positions related to CPHT policy;
• discharging its statutory functions and fiduciary responsibilities in the public interest;
• appointing the Registrar, monitoring and evaluating the Registrar’s performance; and
• ensuring the Council’s goals for CPHT are met.

The Council of CPHT will:

• govern in a manner that guides and inspires through thoughtful, balanced policies, which reflect CPHT’s vision, mission and values;
• govern with integrity in a moral, ethical and transparent manner;
• govern in a manner that protects the public interest and is in keeping with the best principles of self-governance;
• govern with a strategic perspective that understands the long term and systemic impacts of policies developed and decisions made;
• respect the roles assigned within CPHT’s structure;
• empower staff to implement policies developed by Council;
• ensure high standards by providing orientation to new Council members and assisting them in developing the skills and knowledge needed to govern effectively;
• ensure CPHT’s mandate is fulfilled through regular goal setting and monitoring;
• evaluate the collective and individual performance of the Council and Council members on an annual basis, identifying strengths and developmental needs;
• ensure that no officer, Council member, Committee of Council, or CPHT staff member interferes with or hinders the fulfillment of CPHT’s mandate;
• ensure appropriate resources are available to achieve CPHT’s mandate; and
• monitor the performance of CPHT.

Council Member Skills and Attributes CPHT seeks physicians who can bring a broad range of skills and perspectives to the Council’s work. To ensure that the Council can successfully execute its strategic objectives, Council members are expected to have a number of skills, attributes and behavioural competencies which are outlined below. Diversity Race, Gender, Age, Practice Setting, Practice Specialty Technical Skill Financial Literacy, Governance, Knowledge of Anti-oppression, Legal and Fiduciary Knowledge, Medical Proficiency, Health Systems Knowledge, Human Resources, Leadership, Policy Development Behavioural Competency Continuous Learning, Creativity, Effective Communication, Planning & Initiative, Relationship Building, Results Oriented, Strategic Thinking, Teamwork

Better Healthcare, Better Tomorrow

Founding Date

(OOG July 2023)

Alternative Names

The College of Physicians and Healers of Terra, The Healer's Guild, CPHT

Founders

• Micah Lalh Zahir