Ethics

Question 1

what are the 3 levels of medical ethics?

Answer 1

1) laws (written and case law)
2) Guidelines and recommendations
3) Ethics as ability to critically and morally reason

Question 2

what is ethics vs medical ethics?

Answer 2

The study of what is morally right and what is morally wrong (critical approach, based on rational argument)
Medical ethics deals with this in healthcare setting

Question 3

what are the GMC guidelines for consent?

Answer 3

presume that every adult patient (>16 years) has the capacity to decide about their care, irrespective of:

• age, disability or appearance
• behaviour and beliefs
• medical condition (including mental)
• apparent inability of communicate
• decision that others disagree with or consider unwise

Question 4

what happens if someone is just under 16 in terms of consent?

Answer 4

asses for individual

Question 5

what governs consent over the age if 16?

Answer 5

assessment of capacity
can the patient:
- understand treatment
- retain information
- weigh up options to make decisions
- communicate decision

Question 6

what is the law of emergency?

Answer 6

if someone (eg) needs resuscitated you can go ahead without consent

Question 7

what are the 3 categories of consent groups?

Answer 7

1) child or young person with limited capacities to consent
2) competent adult
3) Adult with limited or no capacities for consent

Question 8

is it ever justifiable to lie to a patient/withhold information?

Answer 8

yes

• to prevent other patient’s confidentiality
• downplay severity of condition to child
• end stage dementia patients to prevent distress
• if you’ve seen test results/scan but cant deliver bad news (more senior has to do it or might want to redo tests)

Question 9

name 4 main ethical theories

Answer 9

deontology (respect autonomy)
consequentialism/utilitarianism
virtue ethics (personal character)
religious theories

Question 10

what is consequentialism and when is it used?

Answer 10

can override decision of patient/family if bad consequences

used eg. if parent decides to treat child’s cancer holistically

Question 11

what are the 4 main ethical principles?

Answer 11

respect for autonomy (respect patients free will and decisions)
beneficence (balance benefit/risk of treatment)
non-maleficence (avoid harm)
justice