Ethics Flashcards
What us the earliest known medical ethics?
Hippocratic oath
What serves as a guide for ethical conduct for physicians?
AOA code of ethics- 19 sections
Basis for this document is the physician/patient relationship and professionalism as a physician
Section 1 of AOA code of ethics summery
Physicians will keep in confidence whatever they learn about a patient during the stay and after discharge
Information will only be divulged when required by law or authorized by patient
Section 2 of AOA code of ethics summary
Physician is required to give a summary/account of a patients condition to the patients or those responsible for the patients care
Section 3 of AOA code of ethics summary
Physcian-patient relationship so founded apron mutual trust, cooperation and respect
Section 4 AOA code of ethics summary
A physician is never justified in abandonment. Must give due notice to the patient
Abandonment requirements
Must be a physician-patient relationship
Can only occur when the patient is in need of medical attention “critical stage”
It had to have occurred abruptly
Valid reasons to end relationship w/ patients
Physician has insufficient knowledge or resources to provide treatment
Patient violates physician policies
Patient has numerous missed appointments
Patient will not follow physician recommendations
Patient w/ inappropriate behavior
AOA code of ethics section 5 summary
Physician should use body of systematized and scientific knowledge to maintain competent care of health for a patient.
Use Evidence based medicine and maintains competence through CME
AOA code of ethics section 6 summary
Physicians are required to maintain high standards and therefore continuously regulate themselfs
Maintain memberships, actively support local state and national associations
Stark Law
U.S federal law that prohibits self-referral and physicians from referring patients to an entity that the physician is related to
Autonomy description
Self-rule
Patient has the freedom of thought and action when making decisions regarding health care procedures
Patient must understand all risks and benefits of the procedure and likelihood of success
Patient may freely choose loyalties or systems of religious believes that may adversely affect them
Autonomy in children
The principle of avoiding harm and death takes precedence.
Autonomy of the child’s parents as surrogate decision makers takes priority next
Double effect definition
When interventions undertaken by physicians produce a positive and negative outcome at the same time
Non-maleficence definition
Above all, do no harm
Make sure procedure does not do unnecessary harm
Physicians are obligated to not prescribe medications they know are harmful
Medical malpractice definition
Act of omission by a health care provider that deviates from accepted standards of practice which causes unnecessary injury to the patient
Beneficence definition
Practitioner should act in “the best interest” of the patient.
Procedure should provide intended good to the patient
Requires health care provider to develop and maintain skills and knowledge by continually updating training and to consider individual circumstances of all patients.
Justice definition
“Fairness and equality”
Distribution of health resources should be fairly distributed as well as benefits and burdens of experimental treatments.
4 main areas that justice must be considered
Fair distribution of scarce resources
Competing needs
Rights and obligations
Potential conflicts with established legislations
Fidelity definition
Do what you say you are going to do and respect confidentiality
Utility definition
Use drugs and interventions to the best utility for patient health.
Perfect health = 1
Death = 0
4 main principles of medical ethics
Autonomy
Non-maleficence
Beneficence
Justice
