Medical Ethics

Question 1

Importance of ethical reasoning (3 levels)

Answer 1

• Individual (e.g. time w patient)
• Community/national (e.g. resource allocation)
• International (e.g. global health, crossing boundaries)

Question 2

The role of the GMC

Answer 2

• Protect patients
• Improve UK medical education
• Manage the medical register
• Maintain standards for doctors

Question 3

4 domains of the Duties of a Doctor

Answer 3

1. Knowledge, skills and performance
2. Safety and quality
3. Communication, partnership and trust
4. Maintaining trust

Question 4

Doctor’s first concern

Answer 4

Care of patient

Question 5

Consequentialism

Answer 5

A right action promotes the best circumstances

Question 6

Consequentialism shortcomings

Answer 6

• Actions that lead to the best circumstances might seem wrong
• Some individuals might be treated unjustly

Question 7

Deontology

Answer 7

A right action is in accord w a moral rule/principle

Question 8

Deontology shortcomings

Answer 8

• Consequences matter

- How do we decide on duties and their hierarchy?

Question 9

Virtue Ethics

Answer 9

A right action is what a virtuous agent would do

Question 10

Virtue Ethics shortcomings

Answer 10

• How do you decide virtues?

- May be culturally specific

Question 11

3 other ethical theories

Answer 11

• Feminist ethics
• Narrative ethics
• Rights theory

Question 12

Respect for autonomy

Answer 12

Respecting that a competent informed adult can make their own decisions
- Confidentiality, informed consent

Question 13

Beneficence

Answer 13

The obligation to act in a way to benefit the patient

- e.g. blood transfusions

Question 14

Non-maleficence

Answer 14

Don’t act in a way to cause harm to your patient

Question 15

Justice

Answer 15

Fairness –> both in time and treatments

Equivalent needs get equivalent access to appropriate care

Question 16

Distributive justice

Answer 16

Must try to distribute limited resources fairly

Question 17

Doctrine of Double Effect

Answer 17

It is permissible to cause harm through a beneficial effect

Question 18

Doctrine of double effect 4 Criteria?

Answer 18

1) action must be good, independent of circumstances
2) the agent must only intend the good effect
3) the bad effect must not be a means to the good effect
4) the good effect must compensate for the bad effect

Question 19

Example of the Doctrine of double effect?

Answer 19

Giving pain medication to ease suffering, even though it may accelerate patient’s death