Ethics

Question 1

What is the 3 levels of formal medical ethics ?

Answer 1

1. Laws
2. Guidelines and recommendations (e.g. GMC guidance or NHS policies, Local policies and procedures
3. Your ability to reason critically and morally

Question 2

What is meant by deontology ?

Answer 2

Key question - is the act right or wrong in itself ?

Question 3

What is meant by consequentialism ?

Answer 3

Whether some action is right or wrong depends upon consequences.

Question 4

What is meant by utilitarianism ?

Answer 4

Act always to maximise the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people. e.g. Triage

Question 5

What is meant by Communitarianism/Community Ethics?

Answer 5

Is the act good for everyone that will be affected by the act?

Question 6

What are the Principles of Biomedical Ethics (Beauchamp and Childress)?

Answer 6

Respect for autonomy: respect for person’s free will and capacity for independent decision-making

Beneficence: balance of benefits of treatment against risks and costs – acting for the good of others

Non-maleficence: avoid causing harm

Justice: fair distribution of benefits, risks and costs, fair resource allocation, social justice