Ethics Flashcards
What are teh core ethical principles?
- Patient autonomy
- Beneficence
- Nonmaleficence
- Justice
What is Patient autonomy?
Obligation to respect pts as individuals & to honor their preferences in medical care
What is Beneficence?
Physicians have a special ethical (fiduciary) duty to act in the pt’s best interest. If the pt can make an informed decision ultimately the pt has the right to decide
What may beneficence conflict w/?
Pt autonomy
What is Nonmaleficence?
“Do no harm”
What is Justice?
To tx persons fairly
What does informed consent legally require?
- Discussion of pertinent info
- Pt’s voluntary agreement to the plan of care
- Freedom from coercion
What are the exceptions to informed consent?
- Pt lacks decision-making capcity or is legally incompetent
- Implied consent in an emergency
- Therapeutic privilege
- Waiver
What is Therapeutic privilege?
With holding info when disclosure would severely harm the pt or undermine info decision-making capacity
What is Waiver?
Pt waives the right of informed consent
What must pts have an intelligent understanding of?
- Risks
- Benefits
- Alternavtives
- No intervention
When can a written consent be revoked by the pt?
Any time, even orally
Who is considered a minor?
Any pt <18yo
When does parental consent need to be obtained?
Any minor unless the pt is emancipated
When is parental consent NOT required?
- Emergency situations
- Prescribing contraceptives
- Treating STDs
- Medical care of pregancy
- Treatment of drug addiction