Justice and patient's rights

Question 1

What is ethics?

Answer 1

The moral principles on what is good and bad that determine behaviour.

Question 2

What prevents the full influence of ethics in regards to allocation of resources?

Answer 2

Economic effect - Limited resources but unlimited demand and price determines distribution of resources, meaning that the wealthier get better resources.

Question 3

What is the free market?

Answer 3

Created by Thatcher to have no government involvement so that the price of goods was based purely on supply and demand so the wealthier benefited.

Question 4

What is the welfare state?

Answer 4

The involvement of the government to protect and promote social and economic wellbeing based on equal opportunity, equitable wealth and public responsibility for those who are unable to provide the necessities for themselves. It was created to help the economy and stop financial depression.

Question 5

What kind of state are we currently in?

Answer 5

Welfare state due to the tax funded NHS but it is slowly moving to free market due to privatisation.

Question 6

What does the welfare state provide?

Answer 6

Benefits
State education
Public housing initiatives
Employment creation
Health services and health promotion

Question 7

What was the NHS like in 1948?

Answer 7

The creation of NHS occurred along side the creation of the welfare state to provide health care for all that was free at the point of delivery. Aimed to provide equitable distribution and promote health.

Question 8

What does free at the point of delivery mean?

Answer 8

Free whilst receiving but paying for it through taxes.

Question 9

What was the aim of the NHS?

Answer 9

To decline levels of ill health and put less demand on the NHS

Question 10

Why were prescription, densistry and optical charges introduced?

Answer 10

The demand and cost exceeded expectation as patients who could not previously afford to get care were now claiming the free care.

Question 11

What is justice?

Answer 11

Equitable and righteousness

Question 12

What is formal justice?

Answer 12

Treating everyone the same despite inequalities

Question 13

What is substansive justice?

Answer 13

Considers inequalities resulting in +ve discrimination.

Question 14

What is justice as desert?

Answer 14

Being treated equally according to how deserving they are. e.g. should a self inflicted injury be treated on NHS? May justify privatisation

Question 15

What is justice as maximising utility and what is the issue with this?

Answer 15

UTILITARIANISM: Maximising benefit for the most number of people. May lead to loss of autonomy if a treatment is not available and poor health needs may outweigh severe needs.

Question 16

What is justice as satisfying need and give an example of treatment that this applies to?

Answer 16

Money spent only on those with health care needs. The needs are generated by the social environment. It is the debate between providing treatment for a want rather than a need e.g. IVF

Question 17

What does the value of life suggest about who should be prioritised for treatment?

Answer 17

Suggests it is more of a tragedy to die young than old so treatments for life threatening diseases should be prioritised for younger Pts.

Question 18

What is the fair innings approach?

Answer 18

It suggests that a person who has already had a fair innings / fit elderly, should get lower priority in the distribution of health gains than a younger person who without treatment will have a premature death or lifelong disability.

Question 19

What has the greatest impact on fundraising?

Answer 19

Emotional appeal

Question 20

What is a QALY?

Answer 20

A cost-benefit approach to measure the quantity and quality of life years. Set at £25,000 per QALY

Question 21

How can a Pt challenge the limited availability of treatments?

Answer 21

Using the Human Rights Act 1998

Question 22

What is equality?

Answer 22

The right to be treated fairly despite individual differences.

Question 23

Which 8 characteristics are protected within a health care environment and employment?

Answer 23

• Gender reassignment
• Race
• Sexual orientation
• Pregnancy/Maternity
• Sex
• Religion/belief
• Disability
• Age