Ethics

Question 1

What is the difference between ethics and morals?

Answer 1

Ethics – system of moral principles, rules of conduct in a society, for example a medical code that professionals must follow.

Morals – principles or habits relating to right or wrong conduct based on individual’s own compass of right and wrong, their own emotions

Morals can be in conflict with ethics

Question 2

What is the deontological approach to medical/clinical ethics?

Answer 2

duty based approach (we have a duty to act a certain way)

Certain acts are deemed inherently right or wrong

This is independent of the consequences of the action or inaction

Question 3

What is the utilitarian/consequentialist approach to medical/clinical ethics?

Answer 3

The consequence not the act is most relevant in ethical behaviour

The ends justify the means

Choosing the greater good, doing the right thing

Question 4

What is the principlism approach to medical/clinical ethics?

Answer 4

Ethical choice measured against framework of principles
Analyses applied ethical dilemmas in light of balancing these principles

Beuchamp and Childress’ principles:
Beneficence, Nonmaleficence,, Autonomy, Justice

Principles of research ethics:
Respect for the truth – avoiding ineligible/inappropriate results, incomplete data collection, inaccurate or restricted data analysis, data fabrication/falsification/misrepresentation, plagiarism.
Respect for the people – safety, informed consent, protection from suffering, injury, disability and death, consideration of vulnerable subjects.

Question 5

What are virtue ethics?

Answer 5

A right act is the action of a virtuous person would do

Person based rather than action based

This struggles with moral dilemmas

Question 6

What are the tenants of the Hippocratic oath?

Answer 6

Do no harm

Prohibition on euthanasia

Prohibition on mutilation

Practice only in area of expertise

Doctrine of medical confidentiality

Question 7

Which groups of people are considered vulnerable subjects?

Answer 7

Children, older persons
People with mental health problems
People with learning disabilities
Captive persons, those in poverty dependent on services
Dying, sedated or unconscious persons
Cognitive impairments and altered states of capacity

Question 8

What are the 4 categories of concern for health information in personalised treatment?

Answer 8

Generating

Aggregating

Analysing

Storing