Ethics of Supplemental Feeding Flashcards
Ethics
- The study of moral standards and how they affect conduct
- A system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for an individual or group
Why is killing wrong?
- Murder universally recognised as wrong
- Respect for autonomy of the individual
- Equality of human beings (equity, justice)
- Society would break down
- We are here to do good (beneficence)
- We should avoid unnecessary harm (non-malfeasance)
Malfeasance
Wrongdoing (used especially of an act in violation of public trust)
Beneficence
The doing of good: active goodness of kindness: charity
What general principles within the human rights legislation are particularly relevant?
- Article 2: right to life
- Article 3: prohibition of torture
- Article 8: right to respect for private and family life
What are the problems associated with general legislation?
- Primarily designed to protect individuals in law
- Not specific
- Impractical for daily decisions
- Subject to interpretation
Respect for autonomy
Informed consent, right to make one own choices
The principle of non-malfeasance
Protect the patient from harm
The principles of beneficence
Promote the patients welfare
Justice
Fair in dealings with patients, colleagues and society
What is meant of being ‘incapable’ within mental incapacity?
Incapable means incapable of:
- Acting or
- Making decision or
- Communicating decisions or
- Understanding decisions or
- Retaining memory of decisions
What is the primary role of medicine?
- To benefit the patient by restoring or maintaining the patients health as far as possible
- If treatment fails or ceases to give a net benefit to the patient or the patient has completely refused the treatment then that foal cannot be realised and the justification for providing the treatment is removed
Give an examples of basic care and treatment.
- Food and fluid are basic care
- Any tube (NG,PEG) is treatment
