Chapter 2 Test 1 Flashcards
culmination of individual morality, expectations of reasonable human behavior, and obligations to act appropriately based on profession or philosophy.
Ethics
what is “Right and Wrong”. Largely stem from internal sources
Morals
formed through influence of family, culture, religion, and society.
Moral Values
a practical application of moral standards or philosophical examination of moral situations or issues
Applied Ethics
a specific type of applied ethics, because it draws upon moral principles and applies those to relevant scenarios or situations in the delivery of healthcare.
Medical Ethics
are designed to provide guidance about the ethical conduct of a profession.
Professional Ethics
address matters of life and death in the use of biological and medical technology.
Bioethics
HIM and informatics professionals have an ethical responsibility to
Patients
The profession
Their employers
_______ can have same repercussions as illegal behavior
Unethical behavior
Best option in any decision is based on which choice provides greatest advantage or benefits the greatest number of people
- The end justifies the means
Utilitarianism
Duty-based ethics
Individuals should be ethical because it is their duty
Deontology
The primary goal of decision making should be maintaining the rights of every individual
- Everybody should have their confidentially and privacy respected
Right-based ethics
Seeking the good life. An individual’s positive moral principles lead them to do positive things
- Do good for others
- We all want to be good people, we want to hope everyone has good
Virtue-based ethics
- autonomy
- beneficence
- nonmaleficence
- justice
Ethical Principles
A principle is a guiding foundation used to determine a course of action.
can be used to define ethical issues and establish reasoning in decision making.
Ethical Principle
Recognizing the right of a person to make one’s own decision
- empower the patient to make their own decision
- requires HIM professional to ensure patient, and not a spouse or third party, makes decision regarding access to his or her health information.
Autonomy
Doing good, promoting the health and welfare of others, demonstrating kindness, showing compassion, and helping others
- requires the HIM professional to ensure information is released only to individuals who need it to do something that will benefit patient (payment for an insurance claim).
Beneficence
Do no harm
- requires the HIM professional to ensure the information is not released to someone who does not have authorization to access it and who might harm patient if access were permitted (newspaper seeking information about a famous person).
Nonmaleficence
Obligation to be fair in the distribution of benefits and risks
- requires HIM professional to apply the rules fairly and consistently for all and not to make special exceptions based on personal or organizational perspectives.
Justice
The qualities that characterize a particular profession
Changes based on age, education, position, or work setting
Professionalism
When a conflict arises between personal interests and official responsibilities or duties
- Often occurs when an individual has power to make decisions involving finances or the opportunity for financial gain
Conflict of interest
Reflects the values and principles defined by a profession as acceptable behavior within a practice setting
Guiding principles by which a profession governs the conduct of its members
Used as a benchmark for what constitutes acceptable practice in malpractice, negligence, or other litigious situations
Dynamic in that they change as societal and practice expectations change
Professional Code of Ethics
The Code of Ethics are Tenets I, III, and IV that specifically address protecting the privacy and confidentiality of health information and records
The Health Information Bill of Rights for protecting healthcare consumers lists seven measures designed to
-Safeguard an individual’s right to lawful access of their personal health information
-Prevent unauthorized access to that information
-Promote its best possible accuracy
-Seek proper remedy when any such privilege is violated
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
A physician shall respect the rights of patients, colleagues, and other health professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences and privacy within the constraints of the law.
American Medical Association (AMA)
The Code of Professional Ethical Conduct specifically addresses use of patient information in its first ethical guideline and also offers ethical guidance as related to patients, employers, colleagues, society, research and general performance
- Addresses ethical issues of vendor-user contracts related to EHR systems, associated devices and health-related software applications
American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)
Provides a standardized approach to ethical decision making in the healthcare organization
Members analyze ethical decisions and make recommendations
Must take into consideration the mission and vision of the healthcare organization as well as any applicable laws and regulations
Ethics Committee
- Define the problem
- Seek out relevant assistance, guidance and support
- Identify alternatives
- Evaluate the alternatives
- Make the decision
- Implement the decision
- Evaluate the decision
Seven step ethical decision making model
What is the three step Blanchard-Peale ethics check?
Is it legal?
Is It balanced?
How will it make me feel about myself?
When ethical issues arise as a result of advancements in technology leading to disease detection, medication interventions, and enhanced treatments
Often subject of much debate as the fields of biology and technology intertwine
Dilemmas often are seen in beginning and end of life stages of treatment
Bioethics
Procreation—The beginning of life In vitro fertilization - Unused fertilized eggs. Embryonic stem cell research - Are fertilized eggs human life? Contraception and sterilization
Bioethics—Beginning of Life
- Terminal patients who wish to forgo treatment
- Hospice care(Palliative care to make terminally ill patients more comfortable)
- Voluntary Euthanasia(AKA – Physician assisted suicide)
- Conflict between a patient’s wishes and their family or loved ones’ wishes
Bioethics—End of Life
Technology has advanced the discovery of genetic codes and research focuses on identification of diseases at the genetic level
Gene testing and gene therapy can be ethically challenging for patients and families
Production of more genetic information requires additional protection of that specific data
Bioethics—Genetics