Medical ethics

Question 1

Define A, NM, B, J.

Answer 1

You know them

Question 2

What are some theories people can have about resource allocation?

Answer 2

Egalitarian: provide all care that’s necessary for everyone

Maximising: based on who will get maximum benefit from it

Libertarian: everyone’s responsible for their own health, wellbeing and fulfilment of life

Deontology: individual patient focused

Utilitarianism: greater good,, population as whole

Question 3

What are the pros and cons of the egalitarian argument?

Answer 3

P: equal for everyone

C: economically

Question 4

Pros and cons of libertarian argument?

Answer 4

P: patient more engaged in their health

C: not all diseases are self-inflicted

Question 5

What’s deontology?

Answer 5

Patient centred approach, with no regard for the greater good (population as a whole)

Question 6

What’s utilitarianism?

Answer 6

Thinking about greater good, population as a whole rather than individual patient.

Question 7

What are the 4 human rights relevant to healthcare?

Answer 7

Article 2: the right to life

Article 3: right to be free from inhuman and degrading treatment

Article 8: right to respect for privacy and family life

Article 12: right to marry and have a family

Question 8

What’s John Stuart Mill’s harm principle?

Answer 8

Actions of a person should only be restricted to prevent harm to others

Question 9

What are the GMC duties of a doctor?

Answer 9

1. Care of patient first concern
2. Protect and promote health of patients and public
3. Provide a good standard of practice and care
4. Treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity
5. Work in partnership with patients
6. Be honest and act with integrity

Question 10

Pros and cons of maximising theory of resource allocation?

Answer 10

P: resources allocated to those who’ll get most benefit

C: those with less need get nothing