Consent and Ethics

Question 1

What constitutes battery in a medical context?

Answer 1

Failing to obtain informed consent before performing a test or procedure

Question 2

What is the definition of competency?

Answer 2

Legal term used to indicate that a person has the ability to be held accountable for their decisions

Can only be called incompetent by a court of law

Question 3

What are the five things a patient requires to be fully consented for investigation/treatment?

Answer 3

Nature of the condition
Prognosis
Likely consequences
Risks/benefits of receiving or not receiving treatment
Offering of acceptable alternative treatments

Question 4

Under what circumstances is written consent needed?

Answer 4

For invasive procedures with quantifiable risks e.g. infection rates following a specific type of surgery (with a particular surgeon)

Question 5

What is an ethical issue surrounding emergency C-section for foetal distress?

Answer 5

Emergency C-section can be legally refused by a women in this situation - the foetus may come to serious harm as a result but woman’s rights trump foetus in this instance

This is curious as foetuses are classified as unborn humans from 24wks and are granted human rights which this mother’s decision in this instance

Question 6

What are some ethical issues surrounding selective foetal reduction?

Answer 6

Cant put more than 2 (usually only 1) embryo into a womb in the UK

Can do it abroad and IVF is cheaper and more embryos will increase chance of implantations

Couples may go away to have IVF then return to UK - if they have triplets or more - there are associated risks and reduced chances of survival for mother and children - UK doctors would want to selectively reduce number in womb

Parents often dont want this as money/time/energy gone into getting pregnant - need to be managed delicately

Question 7

What are some ethical issues surrounding non-vaccination in pregnancy?

Answer 7

Damage to foetus - who do we try to protect and how do we maximise maternal autonomy?

Rubella for example - if mother contracts in 1st trimester, 90% transmission rate = congenital rubella = deafness, brain damage, heart defects, cataracts etc

Question 8

Under what circumstances might sex selection be acceptable?

Answer 8

For severe and debilitating conditions only affecting one sex in families already affected by that condition

Question 9

What are the laws on abortion?

Answer 9

Under the 1967 Abortion Act

Permissible in this country up to 23+6 = social limit

Right up until parturition for medical reasons