Ethics Flashcards
what age is the patient considered an adult and you must assume patient has the capacity to decide about their care?
16
what are the 4 main principles according to Beauchamp and Childress?
autonomy
beneficience
non-maleficiance
justice
how do you apply the principle of autonomy?
respecting a person’s capacity of free will and independent decision-making
how do you apply the principle of beneficence?
balance of benefits of treatment against risks and costs- acting for the good of others
how do you apply the principle of non-maleficience?
avoiding causing harm
how do you apply the principle of justice?
fair distribution of benefits, risks and costs, fair recourse allocation, social justice
if a certain treatment or act that a patient would like (such as contraception, abortion) doesn’t agree with your own personal beliefs, what should you do?
pass patient onto a colleague
you need to respect your own beliefs but also ensure patient gets the treatment they require
What are the 5 main ethical theories?
deontology consequentialism/utilitarianism communitarianism/community ethics virtue ethics religious theories
what is the key question of the ethical theory of deontology?
is the act right or wrong in itself? (irrespective of what the positive or negative consequences are)
what are the key questions of the ethical theory of consequentialism/utilitarianism?
consequentialism: ‘What consequences will the act have?’
utilitarianism: ‘Will the act increase overall wellbeing? (Do benefits outweigh the risks?)’
what is the key question of the ethical theory of communitarianism/community ethics?
‘is the act good for everyone that will be affected by the act?’
what is the key question of the ethical theory of virtue ethics?
‘Am I being honest to myself and consistent in my acts?’
what is the key question of the ethical theory of religious theories?
‘Does the act respect the fundamental value of sanctity of human life?’
