Ethics

Question 1

An ethical decision is made using what ethical rules?

Answer 1

Veracity
* Confidentiality
* Fidelity

Question 2

What are the ethical principles?

Answer 2

Autonomy
* Beneficence
* Non-maleficence
* Justice

Question 3

What are the ethical systems or theories?

Answer 3

Teleology: Consequentialism (The end justifies the means)
* Deontology (Do the right thing – duty orientated)

Question 4

What is Hedonistic Consequentialism?

Answer 4

Requires that a good outcome is ‘as much happiness be produced as possible’.

Question 5

What is interest/preference consequentialism?

Answer 5

‘Good outcomes’ are those where interests (desires) or preferences of
those involved are maximized.

Question 6

What are deontological ethical theories?

Answer 6

Duty orientated”. Deontological ethics are concerned with what people
do, not with the consequences of their actions

Question 7

What are Beauchamp and Childress’ Four Principles framework?

Answer 7

Principle of Autonomy
Principle of Non- maleficence
Principle of Beneficence
Principle of Justice

Question 8

What is the principle of autonomy?

Answer 8

Respecting the decision-making capacities of autonomous persons; enabling
individuals to make reasoned informed choices.
The individual (patient) has a right to make decisions that will influence his life (Informed
Consent)

Question 9

What is the principle of non-maleficence?

Answer 9

First do no harm.
Avoiding the causation of harm; the healthcare professional should not harm the patient.
All treatment involves some harm, even if minimal, but the harm should not be
disproportionate to the benefits of treatment.
Making a decision that avoids inflicting unnecessary pain or injury, or damage a persons
reputation, property, privacy or liability, or will kill a person

Question 10

What is the Principle of Beneficence?

Answer 10

Do what is best for your patient.
This considers the balancing of benefits of treatment against the
risks and costs; the healthcare professional should act in a way
that benefits the patient.

Question 11

What is the Principle of Beneficence?

Answer 11

Do what is best for your patient.
This considers the balancing of benefits of treatment against the
risks and costs; the healthcare professional should act in a way
that benefits the patient.

Question 12

What is the principle of justice?

Answer 12

Everyone should be considered equally.
Distributing benefits, risks and costs fairly; the notion that patients
in similar positions should be treated in a similar manner

Question 13

What is veracity?

Answer 13

Always tell the truth, (Dr and Pt).
In practice this rule is challenged by asking the question
“how much of the truth should the patient hear?” – Benevolent
deception.

Question 14

What is fidelity?

Answer 14

A professional should always be faithful to their patients and their
colleagues. Eg Making an explicit or implied promise as a
healthcare professional, following the professional code of ethics
and duty of fidelity.
Criticizing a colleague to a patient or family member, only serves to
undermine the integrity of the profession as a whole. Should you
disagree with a colleague, rather than saying that he is wrong, say
instead that you have formed a different opinion.

Question 15

What is informed consent?

Answer 15

“A voluntary un-coerced decision, made by a sufficiently
competent or autonomous person on the basis of adequate
information and deliberation, to accept rather than reject some
proposed course of action that will affect him or her”

Consent: Acceptance by a patient of a proposed clinical intervention
after having been informed, as far as reasonably can be expected,
or all relevant factors relating to that intervention. (GCC – The Code,
30 June 2016)

Question 16

What are wounded healers?

Answer 16

Therapist allows their personal life and personal issues to become central to
the therapeutic relationship. In a range of therapies, the practitioner is
assumed to bring not only their skills but also their experiences to the
therapeutic relationship.

The main problem with the wounded healer concept is that it can be
used as an excuse for practitioners not to establish and maintain clear
boundaries between themselves and the users.
In the extreme case, the practitioner may feel it is all right to
emotionally ‘open up’ to patients about their life experiences at
inappropriate times or in inappropriate ways.
Using the therapeutic relationship to fulfill the practitioner’s own
psychological or emotional needs can be seen as a form of abuse.

Question 17

What are the 9 key ethical areas underpinning the standards of best practice in CAM?

Answer 17

1) Competence
2) Research
3) Negotiation of contracts with users
4) Respect for autonomy and consent
5) Consent for children receiving CAM
6) Respect confidentiality
7) Maintain professional boundaries
8) Professional etiquette and whistleblowing
9) An effective complaints mechanism