Ethical Issues in Health Flashcards
Patient has freedom of thought, intention, and action when making decisions regarding health care procedures
Autonomy
The principle of honesty states that the right to truthful communication regarding their medical condition, the course of their disease, the treatments recommended, and alternative treatments available
Veracity
Serves to ensure that health care providers are obligated to refrain from divulging information that is obtained from patients during the course of medical treatment and to take reasonable precautions to protect that information
Privacy/confedentiality
Relates to the patient-provider relationship, is based on loyalty
Fidelity
the principle that health professionals should behave in the best interest of their patients
Beneficence
the principle of “above all else, do no harm”
Non Maleficence
For a patient to make a fully informed decision, he/she must understand all risks and benefits of the procedure and the likelihood of success
Autonomy
respecting the privileged knowledge
Privacy/confidentiality
Respecting the “self” of others
Privacy/confidentiality
Pharmacists, at times, may experience differing loyalties that will pull them in opposing directions, which is difficult when one choice must be made.
Fidelity
requires a health care provider to not act in any way that intentionally inflicts needless harm or injury to a patient, either through acts of commission or ommission
Non Maleficence
Distibution of scarce health resources, the the decision of who gets what treatment
Justice
Fairness and equality
Justice
The burdens and benefits of new or experimental treatments must be distributed equally among all groups in society
Justice
Making a decision based on criteria and outcome
Comparative Justice
Fair distribution of scarce resources
Distributive Justice
Respect or people’s rights
Rights Based Justice
Respect for morally acceptable laws
Legal justice
3 categories of justice
Legal Justice
Distributive Justice
Rights Based Justice
2 Elements of Justice
Equality and Equity
necessary when some people are not treated with the same degree of respect as that accorded to others
Equality
Care must be taken to ensure that health care resources are used sensibly and fairly
Equity
Meaning of HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability act of 1996
When was HIPAA implemented?
April 2003
Ensures privacy and confidentiality of medical records
HIPAA
A legal document that identifies the patient, diagnoses, and justification for treatment
Medical record
Situations necessitating a choice between two equal (usually undesirable) alternatives
Ethical dilemma
a situation that requires a person to choose between two difficult options, neither of which is perfect
Ethical Dilemma
Factors causing Ethical Issues
Confidentiality
Transmission of diseases
Aggressive marketing practices
Provided information
Terminally ill patients
Sexual Harassment
Protection of private patient information and medical records
Confidentiality
Protect yourself while still making the patients feel at ease
Transmission of diseases
Main goal of the hospital should be patient care, not marketing schemes
Do not recommend unnecessary services to a patient just for the sake of profit
Aggressive marketing practices
accurate and honest information should be provided to the patient
Provided information
These patients have specific wishes for the manner in which they want their lives to end.
Terminally ill patients
Rules should be strict about sexual harassment of any kind at the healthcare facility
Sexual Harassment
branch of ethics committee should be involved in the case
Sexual Ethics
The patient consents to release of the information. Written consent from the patient should be obtained. Otherwise, inferred consent is sufficient.
Disclosure of information
