Ethics Flashcards
Things to note about abortion
- Law is 24 weeks in Britain
- 1 in 3 have an abortion
- new law allows pill to be taken at home
- reduce illegal abortions and allow free choice
- against hippocratic oath and life begins at conception
4 pillars of abortion
A: Mother’s choice. Baby no choice?
B: may benefit mother (inc. mentally)and may be best for child
N: grey area, killing a life
J: 24 weeks, 2 doctors agree
Things to note about organ donation
- Wales uses opt-out system
- organs are unviable in most deaths
- opt-out may invalidate implied consent
4 pillars of opt-out organ donation
A: Opt-out may invalidate implied consent. 30% wales didn’t know it changed
B: opt-out means more donors, saves more lives
N: patient already death
J: increasing organ donation reduces cost on dialysis etc. So could save more lives
Things to note about compulsory vaccinations
- preventable disease still affects millions
- vaccination halts spread to patient and community
- forcing would remove autonomy of parents
4 pillars of compulsory vaccinations
A: compulsory removes autonomy (but when gillick competent vaccine ineffective)
B: benefits child and community
N: not doing it will be potentially life threatening
J: saves money and lives in wider community
Things to note about obesity/smoking
- concern as associated with a range of health issues
- cost NHS a huge amount
- preventable
Pro/cons of obesity/smoking treatment
Pro: • NHS provides for all (justice) • Patients have a choice to smoke/be fat (autonomy) • investing prevents further spends • don’t know the root cause
Cons:
• limited resources
• unfair on those who wait but lead healthy lives
Things to note about charging for A&E
Pros
• Decrease number of non-life-threatening attendances
• NHS Constitution states access to healthcare is a right
• Do it for other primary cares
Cons
• patients aren’t qualified to know what emergency is
• may deter sick people, increasing preventable deaths
4 pillars of euthanasia
Deliberately ending someone’s life A: right to decide own fate B: end suffering N: maleficent J: active is illegal in uk. DNAR. Legal abroad. Legalisation could put vulnerable people at risk
4 pillars for patient refusing life saving medication due to religion
A: ensure fully informed, their right
B: treatment will help
N: not treating will cause harm (by omission), but treating could be harmful psychologically
J: passive euthanasia is legal
Adhere to GMC guidelines
4 pillars for underage asking for contraception
A: if gillick competent
N/B: safe sex reduce pregnancy. Risk damaging trust if you don’t
J: illegal must report if feared unsafe
Provide contraception if gillick competent. Don’t tell parent
4 pillars of patient not telling partner HIV status
A: patient decision, but can be broken to protect other
B/N: act in patients best interest (trust)
J: affects partner
Encourage patient to step forward themselves
Things to note about colleague stealing
- stealing equipment might be dangerous
- wider community misses out by this
- person may react negatively if confronted
- approach calm and supportive
- encourage to come forward, but report if they refuse
4 pillars of patient refusing treatment (depression)
A: patient right, assumed capacity but be aware
B: maintains trust
N: causes passive harm
Refer to psych but let patient know
