EXAM 1 Flashcards
Ethics
Study of morality through philosophy
Descriptive ethics
Ethics studied using methods and tools of science
Normative ethics
Such for objective standards and norms
Bioethics
Application of norms and standards in the fields of medicine and healthcare
Autonomy
The ability for someone to determine their own life
Nonmaleficence
One should not inflict harm on others
Beneficence
One should actively promote the well beings of others
Utility
One should promote. More good than harm for all concerned
Justice
One should promote fair treatment and individuals get what is due
Types of moral theories
- Theories based on right action- focus on right and wrong actions and our obligations to ourselves and others
- Virtue based theories- focus on an individuals character or habits
Utilitarianism
Theory that was made popular by Mill and seeks to promote utility
More benefits and pleasures for all involved and less pain and suffering
Act utilitarianism
Concerned with consequences of individual actions
Rule utilitarian
Concerned with following general rules to promote utility
Kantian ethics
A system of ethics that is based universal rules that one must follow
Rules are determined through reason alone
Categorical imperative
Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that is should become a universal law
Virtue ethics
Society’s goal is to promote human flurishing
A goo society would be filled with and promote virtuous people
Autonomy
The ability for individuals to practice self governance
Paternalism
Overriding an individuals autonomy for their own benefit
Weak paternalism
Paternalistic behavior applied to those who cannot act autonomously: children, disable, etc
Strong paternalism
Paternalistic behavior towards those who are clearl autonomous
Areas of conflict with autonomy and paternalism
- Refusing treatment
— previously courts prioritized the paternalistic duty of professionals when the patient had defendants
—now the courts and medical boarded have shifted to prioritize autonomy over the principle of beneficence - Futile treatment
—arises when a patient demand treatment that will be ineffective or cause undue suffering
Problem with truth telling
Based on a conflict between nonmalficence and autonomy
Confidentiality problems
Issues arise when considering a patients right to privacy and maintains trust with medical professions vs the duty of nonmalficence
Lipkin on truthfulness
Impossible to inform patients with out a medical background in high stress situations
Placebos are a form of deception that is essential to medical practices and research
Schwartz on truthfulness
Supports a more truthful it tactful approach
—patients given information about their disease tended to have better end of live care and less time in hospital
—you don’t have to be explicit about the thee details with a patient facing death
Rachels on Privacy
Aureus that privacy allows us to maintain different types of social relationships
Conditions of informed consent
- The patient is competent to decide
- The patient receives adequate disclosure of information
- The patient understands the disclosed information
- The patient voluntarily decides on a course of treatment
- The patient consents to the treatment
Faden and Beauchamp’s “The concept of informed consent”
- Actions related to autonomous agents given their authorization
- The rules and regulations related to informed consent in medial and legal institutions
Informed consent
Authority of a profession based on their knowledge, the patients difficulty of making a decision amidst anxieties related to their illness and professions dedication to altruism
