Ethics in Healthcare

Question 1

What is the difference between morals and ethics?

Answer 1

Often used interchangeably which is incorrect.
Morals are principals or habits relation to right or wrong conduct based on ones own individual compass of right or wrong.
Ethics are the rules of conduct in a particular culture or group and recognized by an external source or social system.
-based around morals (ie. morals guide ethics)

Question 2

Morals

Answer 2

personal belief of right and wrong.
based on individual upbringings, culture, and religion. can vary widely on individuals and societies.
can be influenced by emotions and person biases.
often deals with issues of character and virutes.

Question 3

Ethics

Answer 3

standards of behaviours set by a group or profession. based on a code of conduct or rules.
generally consistent within a profession or organization.
should be objective and impartial.
often deal with issues of responsibility and accountability.

Question 4

What is morality?

Answer 4

Is a foundation of ethical behaviour.
What we expect people to do so that we can live together in peace and harmony.

Question 5

What is ethics?

Answer 5

The study of morals and moral judgements.
When moral norms can be compared, observed, and weighed, it is known as ethics.

Question 6

What are the ethical principles?

Answer 6

Respect of autonomy
Beneficence
Non-maleficence
Justice

Question 7

Respect of Autonomy

Answer 7

The right of adults with capacity to make informed decisions about their medical care
Need informed consent.
Involves confidentiality.
Health care professionals have not always been strongly aligned for patient autonomy.
-paternalistic providers, patient involvement, patient leaders
It is salient that patients are provided with the truth baout their condition, are informed about risks and benefits of treatment, and are permitted to refuse intervention that they do not feel are in their best interest.

Question 8

Informed Consent

Answer 8

Patients must be provided with all relevant information to make an informed decision about their care.

Question 9

Confidentiality

Answer 9

Protecting patient privacy is paramount.

Question 10

Beneficence

Answer 10

Acting in the best interest.
Healthcare providers must aim to benefit the patient, promoting their well-being.
Only doing what is good for the patient.
It is the concern fro the patient that is manifested by a provider’s duty to his/her patients.
The characteristics that make people beneficent are often the same ones that influence their choice to go into a healthcare field.

Question 11

Non-maleficence

Answer 11

Do no harm.
Avoiding actions (or language you use, or the environment you create) that may harm the environment.
Clearly healthcare providers want to help the patient without doing anything to harm them, either by omission (what we don’t do) or commission (what we do).
It is the idea that we do the right thing if we avoid bad consequences.
Do no harm, prevent harm, remove harm, bring about good.

Question 12

Justice

Answer 12

Fair distribution of resources.
-ensuring equitable access to healthcare services.
Non-discrimination.
-treating individuals impartially, regardless of their background.
Refers to basic fairness.
-intent of justice is to maximize fairness for all patients and potential patients.
Distributed justice looks at how health care resources are distributed amongst the whole of society.
Comparative justice looks at the distribution of healthcare services at the level of the individual.

Question 13

Legal and Ethical Frameworks

Answer 13

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom
-guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms, including those related to healthcare.
Canada Health Act (1984).

Question 14

What is the Canada Health Act?

Answer 14

Principles = public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility.
Objective = ensure all eligible residents have reasonable access to medically necessary services without direct charges.
Is Canada’s federal legislation for publicly funded healthcare insurance.
Sets out the primary objective of Canadian healthcare policy, which is to protect, promote, and restore the physical and mental wellbeing of residents of Canada and to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers.

Question 15

What are some ethical bodies and guidelines?

Answer 15

BC Health Authorities Act
Health Professionals Act
BC Kinesiology Association

Question 16

BC Health Authorities Act

Answer 16

Structure = establishes regional health authorities responsible for delivering healthcare services.
Function = provides governance and accountability mechanisms for the management and delivery of healthcare services.
Ie. Fraser Health, Interior Health, Island Health, etc.

Question 17

Health Professionals Act

Answer 17

Regulation = regulates various health professions to ensure practitioners meet specific standards of practice.
Oversight = includes colleges for each profession that oversee licensing, professional conduct, and continuing education.

Question 18

BC Kinesiology Association

Answer 18

Non-regulated, but does have an ethical framework to guide practice

Question 19

What are some ethical issues in Canadian healthcare?

Answer 19

End-of-life care
Resource Allocation
Indigenous Health
Privacy and Data Security

Question 20

End-of-Life Care

Answer 20

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) = legal in Canada since 2016, with strict guidelines
Palliative Care = focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness.

Question 21

Resource Allocation

Answer 21

Wait times = ethical concerns around fair access to timely healthcare.
Rural vs urban disparities = addressing the unequal distribution of healthcare resources.

Question 22

Indigenous Health

Answer 22

Cultural competency = ensuring healthcare services respect and incorporate Indigenous perspectives and needs.
Addressing historical injustices = recognizing and rectifying past and ongoing healthcare inequities faced by Indigenous Peoples

Question 23

Privacy and Data Security

Answer 23

Electronic health records = ensuring the confidentiality and security of patient information in the digital age.

Question 24

A registered kinesiologist must…

Answer 24

Demonstrate knowledge of all government regulations related to the practice and BCAK ethics.
Ensure all government laws are enforced and followed.
Self-assess your practice to identify areas of continuous learning and maintenance of competency.
Provide service within your scope of practice and personal competence.
Ensure full disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest.

Question 25

What entails a kinesiologists duty to not discriminate?

Answer 25

Cannot discriminate against any person including…
-refusing to accept a new patient for a prohibited reason
-refusing to continue treating a patient for a prohibited reason
-making treatment decisions based on prohibited reasons
-refusing to meet with a patient who has a disability and a support person
-making assumptions not based on clinical observations
Cannot discriminate against any person by…
-expressing moral judgements in a way that is demeaning based on lifestyle, identity, or personal characteristics
-rely on stereotypes
-promoting or imposing your own spiritual, secular, or religious beliefs

Question 26

How do you avoid a human rights complaint?

Answer 26

Clear communication for all your decisions!

Question 27

What is good moral character?

Answer 27

Societal standard of acceptable behaviour related to trust, safety, access to personal information and working with a vulnerable person.
Includes honesty, reliability, respect for the law, integrity, candor, discretion, respect the rights of others, absence of hate and racism, fiscal responsibility, mental and emotional stability.
Absence of criminal conviction.
Criminal record check and submission every 5 years to BCAK.
If practicing Kin is ever charged or under investigation, the Kin must report the matter to BCAK.