Bioethics Midterm Flashcards
Significance of the trolley problem
Illustrates the inconsistency between peoples views and respecting the individuals autonomy versus the greater good
Difference between a valid and sound argument
Valid - if the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true
Sound - ^ but actually true
Autonomy
Capacity to reflect on one’s values and desires and to judge which of those are worth having in the capacity to make decisions and structure one’s life accordingly
Morley significant because it is the ability to govern one’s own life
Moral presumption
A reason that settles the question of what ought to be done in a situation when there is an absence of any other reasons
For example, the more presumption to not steal
Mill’s harm principle
The only justification to interfere with someone’s autonomy is if they are actively bringing harm to others
- ) there is only one justification
- ) that justification is bringing harm to others
- ) The benefit of infringing on that person’s autonomy outweighs the harm caused to that person
Tension between respecting autonomy and promoting the greater good
For example, a person with the cure for cancer must be killed in order to obtain that cure
Veatch’s alternative to informed consent
“Deep value system,” where the patient chooses their physician based off shared personal ideas and values
“Getting much greater information to the patient,” so that they will be cooperating with their doctor to make decisions regarding their treatment, rather then simple consent to the doctor’s decision
Significance of informed consent
Requires the patient to sufficiently understand what they are authorizing the physician to do
Attempt to ensure that the procedure is rendered to be morally okay
Savulescu’s three conditions on a rational desire
- ) all relevant information known
- ) no logical errors or fallacies
- ) must be vividly acquainted with all relevant options
Elliott’s concern regarding respecting autonomy in the case of invitation request
Respecting autonomy is not always the best
Amputation is irreversible, and they may grow to hate their decision
Dworkin’s notion of “precedent autonomy” and its significance
In the case of Alzheimer’s and dementia, the condition should be stated before the respected’s onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia
The former’s wishes should be respected
Dressers worry concerning precedent autonomy based on the psychological continuity view of personal identity
The person who has Alzheimer’s
Dresser’s Worry on Precedent Autonomy
Person with dementia is a different person therefore should be treated as such
Distinguish between psychological continuity view and causal object view of personal identity
Psychological continuity view - personal identity lies in the psychological state such as memories, preferences, and beliefs
Causal object view - identity lies in the stability of their physical constitution
Equipoise and significance to clinical research
Genuine uncertainty of a treatment’s effectiveness
Significant in that a researcher does not knowingly give a less effective treatment to a patient
Difference between theoretical and clinical equipoise
Theoretical - equal credence in that the investigator values both treatments as equal in effectiveness (strictest, disrupted with any evidence)
Clinical - lack of clinical consensus
Friedmans objection to the standard of theoretical equipoise
Any anomaly in the data ruins the Creedence between treatments, so the study becomes “morally wrong”
No study can be done without disrupting the highly strict theoretical equipoise
Hellman’s worry with equipoise requirement
The roles of the physician should not be confused with the role of the investigator
The doctor-patient relationship is more important than clinical studies
Distinguish the four types of euthanasia
Active voluntary - direct killing with consent
Active involuntary - direct killing with lack of consent
Passive voluntary - indirect killing with consent
Passive involuntary - indirect killing with lack of consent
AMA doctrine on euthanasia and Rachel’s three criticisms
Active euthanasia is never permissible while passive euthanasia is sometimes permissible
Disrupts physicians duty as healer, while passive euthanasia allows for greatest care, support, and comfort
- ) Allows suffering
- ) Founded on irrelevant grounds (down syndrome baby)
- ) Based on false difference thesis
