Ethic of Supplemental Feeding Flashcards
Define ethics.
- The study of moral standards and how they affect conduct.
- A system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for an individual or group.
Why is killing wrong?
- Murder universally recognised as wrong.
- Respect for autonomy of the individual.
- Equality for human beings (equity, justice).
- Society would break down.
- We are here to do good (beneficence).
- We should avoid harm (non-malfeasance).
Define malfeasance.
Wrongdoing (used especially of an act in violation of public trust).
Define beneficence.
The doing of good; active goodness or kindness; charity.
State the main articles of Human Right Legislation.
- Article 2: right to life.
- Article 3: prohibition of torture.
- Article 8: right to respect for private and family life.
Describe the problems of General Legislation.
- Primarily designed to protect individuals in Law.
- Non-specific.
- Impractical for daily decisions.
- Subject to interpretation.
State the basic concepts of human rights in respect to medicine.
- Respect for autonomy: informed consent, right to make one’s on choices.
- The principle of non-malfeasance: protect the patient from harm.
- The principle of beneficence: promote the patient’s welfare.
- Justice: fair in dealings with patients, colleagues and society.
Is there a law regarding euthanasia in the UK?
No.
Describe the argument surrounding mental incapacity in terms of supplemental feeding.
- Act in patient’s best interest (beneficence).
- Without nutrition, patient will ultimately die (non-malfeasance).
- No ethical difference between withdrawal of treatment and withholding treatment.
Define mental incapacity.
Incapable of;
a) Acting or
b) Making decisions or
c) communicating decisions or
d) understanding decision or
e) retaining memory of decisions.
Describe the situation fo assisted suicide in the UK.
- Still illegal and will need an Act of Parliament to change this.
- In England, the Crown Prosecution Service has issued guidance and prosecutions may not always be proceed.
Describe the primary role of medicine.
- Benefit the patient by restoring or maintaining the patient’s health as far as possible.
= If treatment fails or ceases to give a net benefit to the patient, or if the patient has completely refused the treatment, then that goal cannot be realised and the justification for providing the treatment is removed.
Basic care vs. treatment.
Basic care: food and fluid.
Treatment: any tube (NG, PEG).
