Ethical Considerations Flashcards
Ethical Environment
Patient Centered Care, Patient Advocacy, Enabling patients to make their own decisions, ensuring that interventions are in the patients best interests as defined by the patients values and goals
Autonomy
an individual who is informed and has decision making capacity to make certain choices and take certain actions based on personal values and beliefs.
Beneficence
Actions done for the benefit of others. Doing good. Actions that enhance the patients well-being while reducing the risk of harm.
Non-maleficence
a duty to avoid harm and reduce the risk of arm.
Weighing risk vs. benefit.
Justice
Providing care that is equitable and fair to all and includes the fair distribution of scare resources. Care should be based on patient need regardless of socioeconomic or social status.
Integrity
Consistently upholding and standing firm in ones values.
Trust
Confidence and reliance in the ability and moral character of another person.
Informed Consent
Patient cannot express autonomy unless it is informed and free from coercion. Both the disclosure of information and the active participation of the individual are components of the informed consent.
Principle of double effect
When an act has 2 foreseen effects, one good and one harmful. The action is morally defensible if the harmful effect is not intended, the act itself is good or neutral and the bad effect does not lead to the good effect.
Sometimes used to justify the administration of analgesia in the context of end-of-life.
Self-determination
Founded on autonomy, the patients preferences are known and supported as much as possible whether the patient is a child or an adult.
Decision-making capacity
A healthcare term: can be assess by anyone on the team but confirmed by a psychiatrist or psychologist.
Criteria for decision making capacity
The patient can make and communicate a decision.
The patient can articulate an understanding of the medical situation and prognosis, the nature of the recommended care and alternatives, the risks, benefits and consequences of each alternatives. Decisions are consistent with the patients known values and goals, the patient uses reasoning and analysis to make a choice.
The ability to make decisions
depends on the patients ability understand the clinical facts of his/her health status. The focus is on the patients ability to interpret and integrate information, NOT on their values and preferences although these may influence decision making.
Goal of patient self-Determination Act
Part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation act of 1990. Encourages americans to consider what they wound and would not want at the end of life.
The Best Patient Advocate if the patient does not have decision making ability
The family