Ethics in Family Medicine

Question 1

What are ethics?

Answer 1

clarity and systematic order when it comes to values about what is “right” or “wrong”

Question 2

What is morality?

Answer 2

how to make the “right” decision when two or more equally important values conflict

Question 3

What are medical ethics?

Answer 3

moral principles that govern the practice of medicine

Question 4

Why the law isnt enough?

Answer 4

1. It doesn’t cover all areas
2. It can change (depending on rule)
3. It can excuse unethical practice
   e.g. apartheid, psychiatric detention
4. It can be inconsistent

Question 5

Why intuition isnt enough?

Answer 5

1. It is subjective
2. It is non-systematic
3. It is non-reflexive

Question 6

What are the 4 moral principles of medical ethics?

Answer 6

1. respect for autonomy
2. beneficence
3. non-maleficence
4. justice

Question 7

What is autonomy?

Answer 7

• the rational capacity to self-rule
• letting the patient make the final decision about their treatment after having been given all the necessary and relevant information

Question 8

Clinical obligations for autonomy?

Answer 8

1. Ensure informed consent*
2. Ensure confidentiality
3. Tell the truth /about their condition/
4. Practice patient-centered communication

Question 9

What is self rule?

Answer 9

the right to make your own decisions

Question 10

What is beneficence and non maleficence?

Answer 10

do good and do no harm
- whenever we try to help others, we inevitably risk harming them

Question 11

Clinical obligations of beneficence and non-maleficence?

Answer 11

1. Complete effective education and training
2. Conduct risk and probability assessments
3. Construct/apply evidence
4. Provide health empowerment

Question 12

What is justice?

Answer 12

fairness in treatment
- equal basis for admission and being favored above other patients for no other reasons than medical need

Question 13

Clinical obligations of justice?

Answer 13

1. Right’s-based justice
2. Legal justice
3. Distributive justice

Question 14

What are the 3 types of justice?

Answer 14

1. Right’s based justice - Respect for people’s rights
2. Legal justice - Respect for morally acceptable laws
3. Distributive justice - Fair distribution of limited resources

Question 15

Medical indications correspond to which medical ethics?

Answer 15

1. beneficence
2. non-maleficence

Question 16

Patient preferences correspond to which medical ethics?

Answer 16

autonomy

Question 17

Quality of life corresponds to which medical ethics?

Answer 17

1. beneficence
2. non-maleficence
3. autonomy

Question 18

Contextual features corresponds to which medical ethics?

Answer 18

1. autonomy
2. justice