Medical Ethics and Declaration of Helskini

Question 1

What are the 3 branches of ethics?

Answer 1

• study of natural philosophy (world around us)
• study of moral philosophy (how we should act)
• study of metaphysical (why we are here)

Question 2

What are bioethics?

Answer 2

• study of moral, social and political problems which are directly/indirectly affecting human well-being

Question 3

What are the 3 main Helsinki ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects?

Answer 3

• duty of physician to promote and safeguard health, well being and rights of patients
• physician’s knowledge and conscience dedicated to fulfilment of this duty
• duty of physicians who are involved in medical research to protect life, health, dignity, integrity, right to self determination, privacy and confidentiality of personal information of subjects

Question 4

What are the 4 ethical principles?

Answer 4

• autonomy
• non-maleficence
• beneficence
• justice

Question 5

What is informed consent?

Answer 5

• providing information in a understandable form
• sufficient info to make a decision
• duty of care
• relevant to patient’s circumstances
• risks associated with procedure
• empowered to give, refuse or withdraw consent freely

Question 6

What is governance?

Answer 6

• processes, structures and organisational traditions determining how power is exercised/how stakeholders have their say/how decisions are taken/how decision-makers are held to account