ETHICS Flashcards
Under the age of ___ is technically a child
18
Family Law Reform Act 1969 said what about child consent?
16-18 should be treated as though they are adults
Gillick Case (<16): what did Department for Health circular state?
Prescription of contraception was matter of doctor’s discretion, and that they could be prescribed to children under 16 without parental consent
Describe Gillick competence
“Whether or not a child is capable of giving consent will depend on child’s maturity and understanding and nature of consent. Child must be capable of making reasonable assessment of pros + cons of Tx, so consent can be fairly described as true consent”
What did Lord Scarman (in Gillick) comment on parents’ versus children’s rights?
“Parental right yields to child’s right to make own decisions when he reaches Gillick compentence”
Gillick competence does NOT apply to which ages?
16, 17, 18
Gillick competence: Lord Fraser stated a doctor could proceed to give advice + Tx provided he is satisfied in following criteria:
Patient, can understand advice; Can’t persuade pt to inform parents; Pt v. likely to have sex regardless; Pt’s mental/physical health likely to suffer; Pt's best interests
Law distinguishes between minors
13
13-16
What decision can parents/courts/doctors override in a child that is Gillick competent?
Refusal of therapy
Confidentiality in children 16 or 17
To be treated as adults for purposes of consent to treatment and are therefore entitled to same duty of confidence as adults
Confidentiality in children <16 Gillick competent
(Generally) entitled to have their confidentiality protected and respected
Confidetialty in children <16 non-competent
Lots of uncertainty. Use Gillick criteria to evaluate competence (function not status based assessment). Consider distinction between consent to, and refusal of, Tx. Consider place of confidentiality and duty of care for a minor who is assessed NOT to be Gillick competent
GMC guidance on protection of children by doctors
“Drs must safeguard + protect health and well-being of children & young people. Well-being includes treating young people as individuals & respecting their views, as well as considering physical + emotional welfare. Must always act in best interest of children”
Why do people migrate from their place of birth to other places? 2 types of factors
Push and pull factors
Describe PUSH factors that cause people to migrate - 3 broad factors
- Poverty vs wealth: Nutrition, Shelter, Education, Health
- Persecution vs rights: political, religious, social, death threats, “disappearances”, torture, rape
- War vs peace (inc. civil war)
Describe PULL factors that cause people to migrate - 3 broad factors
- Wealth: Healthcare, education, clean water etc
- Basic rights (freedom from persecution)
- Peace (safety, security from war)
80% of people live on less than how much per day?
$10
Health considerations for overseas patients relating to communicable diseases - 4 issues
- Immunisations
- Hepatitis B, HIV, Malaria, Typhoid etc. Consider the country they have come from
- TB - can be associated in HIV. May be taboo or stigma issues
- Rheumatic fever - rare in UK
Why is it important to consider mental health in migrants?
Mental health is seen and managed differently in different countries
Given an example of a non-communicable disease that should be considered in migrants
Sickle cell or thalassemia status
Four countries where FGM is rife
Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan
How many types of FGM are there?
3
To where do doctors report suspected FGM?
Police
Cross-cultural factors in healthcare. What should you consider?
People may express symptoms differently. May wish to use traditional healing. Consider religious/spiritual framework:
○ Witchcraft
○ Beating out spirits
Stigma attached to certain conditions