Medical Ethics Flashcards
What does Ethics mean?
Studying how people make mroal decisions and the rights and wrongs of different situations.
What does Medical Ethics mean?
A type of ethics which looks at the moral decisions faced by doctors, scientists, and vets.
Are you allowed to test cosmetic or non-life-saving products on animals in the UK?
No, it has been illegal since 1998
Are you allowed to test drugs or medicine on animals in the UK?
By UK law, any new drug or medicine must be tested on animals before being given to humans
What is animal testing?
The testing of products on animals
What is organ donation?
When someone dies, their organs can be removed by a surgeon and implanted into another person to help cure them of a disease or to replace their own failing organs.
What is euthanasia?
When a doctor helps a seriously ill person to die.
Is euthanasia legal in the UK?
No. It is however legal in other European countries such as the Netherlands and Switzerland.
What is the Sanctity of Life?
The belief that human life is very special and incredibly valuable.
What is Pro-Life?
The belief that saving or protecting human lives is more important than anything else.
What do Buddhists believe about Medical Ethics?
Never intentionally cause harm
Reduce Suffering
Show Compassion
What do Christians believe about Medical Ethics?
Believe in the sanctity of life
Never Kill (Ten Commandments)
Pro-Life
What do Hindus believe about Medical Ethics?
Ahimsa - non-violence or non-harm to all living things
God lives within all things
Care for the elderly and for the sick
Karma - every action affects what happens after death, treat everything with respect and kindness
What do Muslims believe about Medical Ethics?
Believe in the sanctity of life
Allah in charge of when life begins and ends
Human Life is more important than Animal Life - Humans can reason and act inteligently, wih justice and compassion
What does Quality of Life mean?
The standard of health, comfort and happiness experienced by a person in their day-to-day life.
What is the Quality of Life argument?
The idea that very poor quality of life can be used as an argument for euthanasia
What is Kantian Ethics?
A way of making ethical decisions that was developed by the German philosopher Immanuel kant in the 1700s
What is Utlitarian Ethics?
A way of making ethical decisions that was developed by the British philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Mill in the 1800s
What are the 2 main rules of Kantian Ethics?
1) Never treat peoples as “a means to an end”
2) You should only ever do things that you would be happy for EVERYONE to do
What are the 2 main rules of Utilitarian Ethics?
1) Always do whatever causes the most happiness for the most number of people
2) Everyone’s happiness must count equally
