Major Principles in Medical Ethics

Question 1

4 major principles in medical ethics

Answer 1

1. autonomy
2. beneficence
3. nonmaleficence
4. justice

they are the foundatios of all ethical dilemmas, i.e a decision should fulfill all of these 4 principles

Question 2

give a brief description of the principle of autonomy

Answer 2

• talks about the right of a patient to make decisions about their health care
• they are allowed to refuse treatment

Question 3

what are the conditions considered for autonomy

Answer 3

1. competence, which refers to the ability of a person to make informed decisions about their health care
2. free of coercion, the physician is require to create an environment free of coercion for the patient where they can have independent thought without ext influence.

• specific competence- a patient can not be able to fulfill certain tasks but however can be able to fully grasp the consequences about medical procedures and make informed decisions
• intermitting competence- is when a person can be able to grasp consequences of medical health procedure, but was not able to hours earlier or wont be able to hours later on(due to a medical condition)

Question 4

what is include in the informed consent?

Answer 4

• benefits, risks of a medical intervention
• chances of succes or failure and the frequency at which these are expected to occur
• alternative if any available

Question 5

briefly describe the principle of beneficence?

Answer 5

• “bene”- latin for good/well
• is an act of doing good out of duty
• physicians are morally obliged to take positive and direct steps towards helping others. (develop and maintain skills, considering the circumstances of each patient and aiming for their max benefit.

Question 6

define ethical egoism

Answer 6

• belief that our our primary obligation is to ourselves
• believe selfishness is a virtue

Question 7

briefly describe principle of non malificence

Answer 7

• First, avoid causing harm, by careful assesment of risks and probability of medical interventions.
• Hippocratical teaching, “first do no harm”
• harm can be perceived differently by different ethical theories.

there is a need for sound research

harm can be as
* negligence, ommision of protocols or procedures put in place to protect patients, families, and communities, including the doctors themselves.
* violation of autonomy, a patient might refuse treatment on the basis of quality of life. Therefore, enforcing treatment can be considered as harm

Question 8

explain harm according to the following ethical theories:
1. consequentialism
2. natural law
3. deontological
4. in a hospital setting

Answer 8

1. that which produces lesser overal good for the parties affected than any other action available
2. that which limits our potential or opposes rational natures
3. that which prevents us from caring out or duty and opposes formal conditions of the moral law
4. that which worsens the condition of a patient

Question 9

in the event of incompetence, what do physicians resort to for decision ?

Answer 9

• substituted judgement- follow the patient’s wishes from when they were still competent
• reasonanle person decision/ best interest- a reasonable person would choose that which maximizes their benefits.

Question 10

briefley explain the principle of justice and give 2 categories of justice?

Answer 10

• emphasizes on the equal distrubution of health burdens or benefits among a group of people unless there is material reason to discriminate.(similar cases should be given similar treatment)
• Distrubutive justice and Procedural justice/Legal Justice

Question 11

give a description on procedural justice and distrubutive justice?

Answer 11

1. procedural justice
   * equal/same treatment for everyone
   * methods used should follow stated procedures (due process)
2. distrubutive justice
   * fair distrubution of limited health resources or division of burdens or benfits qually

Question 12

what are the material reason for discrimination under the principle of justice?

Answer 12

1. based on whether the person is deserving
   * usually due to efforts or contributions made by someone (termination of contracts, experienced workers should have first employment prefs)
2. based on needs,
   * emergencies, natural disasters, accidents, disabilities, special abilities/talents, age
   * based on past discrimination, need to correct social injustices to a particular group of people