Ethics and law

Question 1

What are ethics?

Answer 1

Body of moral principles or values governing or distinctive of a particular culture or group

Question 2

What are the 2 traditions where ethical principles come from?

Answer 2

1. Duties - right and wrong

2. Considering benefits and harms to individual or society, looking at consequences

Question 3

What is consequentialism?

Answer 3

The moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome

Question 4

What are duties or ‘right and wrong’ actions known as?

Answer 4

Deontology

Question 5

What is looking at the benefits and harms to individuals and society as a whole called?

Answer 5

Utilitarianism

Question 6

What are the duties of a doctor registered with GMC?

Answer 6

• Make care of patient first concern
• Treat every patient politely and considerately
• Respect patients dignity and privacy
• Listen to patients and respect their views
• Give patients info in a way they can understand
• Respect the rights of patients to be fully involved in decisions about their care
• Keep your professional knowledge and skills up to date
• Recognise the limits of your professional competence
• Be honest and truthworthy
• Respect and protect confidential info
• Make sure your personal beliefs do not prejudice patient care
• Act quickly to protect patients fro risk if you have good reason to believe that you or a colleague may not be fit to practice
• Avoid abusing your position as a doctor
• Work with colleague in ways that best serve patients interests

Question 7

What are the four principles?

Answer 7

1. Autonomy
2. Non-malificence
3. Beneficence
4. Justice

Question 8

What must you not discriminate against?

Answer 8

Age, colour, culture, disability, ethnic or national origin, gender, lifestyle, marital or parental status, race, religion or beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, social or economic status

Question 9

How can you not impose your personal views and respect patient views?

Answer 9

Fair presentation of facts/opinions
Not letting your views affect your advice/actions
Willingness to refer
Not bullying/belittling

Question 10

When can confidentiality be breached?

Answer 10

1. With patient’s consent
2. With other medical practitioners in the patients’ interest
3. In doctors own defence
4. Statutory requirements
5. When directed to by court of law
6. Protection of other persons
7. In public interest (murder, terrorism)
8. Child abuse

Question 11

What is a duty of candour?

Answer 11

Open and honest with patients when something goes wrong with patients treatment or care which causes, or has potential to cause, harm or distress
Must apologise to patient and often an appropriate remedy and explain fully the short and long term effects of what has happened
Must take part in reviews or investigations when requested
Must raise concerns where appropriate if you believe a patients best interest potentially have been or actually have been compromised
Encourage other peers and colleagues to be open and honest
Must not stop someone who has concerns from raising concern