Intro to Medical Ethics and Law

Question 1

Where do ethical principles come from?

Answer 1

1. Duties - right and wrongs

2. Consideration of the benefits and harms to individuals and society

Question 2

What factors comprise ethics?

Answer 2

Principles
Values
Honesty
Standards - rules of behaviour

Question 3

What is Consequentialism?

Answer 3

Moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome

Question 4

What is deontology?

Answer 4

Duties - right and wrong actions, absolute values

Question 5

What is utilitarianism?

Answer 5

Looking at the benefits and harms to individuals but also society as a whole
Look at consequences

Question 6

What factors drive ethics and clinical decisions?

Answer 6

1. Duties

2. Four Principles

Question 7

What are the four principles of medicine?

Answer 7

1. Respect for Autonomy
2. Non-malfeasance
3. Beneficence
4. Justice

Question 8

What is meant by Respect for Autonomy?

Answer 8

Promote the right to self determination

Question 9

What is meant by Non-malfeasance?

Answer 9

Avoidance of harm

Question 10

What is meant by beneficence?

Answer 10

To do good

Question 11

What is meant by justice?

Answer 11

Fairness/equity
Individual vs population
What are the opportunity costs?

Question 12

How do you approach a case ethically?

Answer 12

Non-judgemental
Not imposing personal views  and respecting patient's views
Confidentiality
Not exceeding competency
Fitness to practice

Question 13

What is meant by a non-judgemental approach?

Answer 13

It doesn’t matter how the patient got their condition

Question 14

What is meant by not imposing personal views on patients?

Answer 14

Fair representation of facts
Not letting views affect advice
Willingness to refer elsewhere
Not bullying/belittling

Question 15

What is meant by fitness to practice?

Answer 15

Specific duty to take appropriate action to protect patients, not just by your own actions, but also to protect patients if you or others are unfit to practise

Question 16

When should you raise a concern?

Answer 16

Drugs
Alcohol
Poor performance

Question 17

What is the University’s View on the ethical code for medical and dental students?

Answer 17

Prepare you for practice
Prepare you for life as a doctor
Ensure that your life as a student does not land you in trouble

Question 18

What is the ethical code duty of candour?

Answer 18

I understand and will uphold that all those caring for and treating patients are bound by a duty of candour

Question 19

What is a duty of candour?

Answer 19

Applies to all healthcare registrants
Must be open and honest with patients when something goes harm
Seek appropriate advice when unsure on consequences
You must apologise to the patient and offer the appropriate remedy

Question 20

When does a doctors duty of candour dictate they should raise concerns?

Answer 20

When you believe a patient’s best interests potentially have been compromised - should encourage peers to be honest