Medical ethics and law Flashcards
What factors comprise ethics?
Principles
Values
Honesty
Standards and rules
What is morality?
Our attitudes, behaviours, and relations to one another
What are the two traditions of ethical principles?
Deontology
Utilitarianism
What is deontology?
Looking at duties, what is right and wrong, and absolute values
What is utilitarianism?
Looks at benefits and harms to individuals, but also society as a whole - looks at consequences
What are duties of doctors registered with the GMC?
Make the care of your patient your first concern
Respect patient dignity and privacy
Listen to patients and respect their views
Keep your knowledge and skills up to date
Be honest and trustworthy
What are the four principles of medical ethics?
Respect for autonomy
Non-maleficence
Beneficence
Justice
What is autonomy?
Promoting the right for self determination
What are factors of autonomy?
Confidentiality
Informed consent
Promote capacity
What is non maleficence?
Avoidance of harm
What is beneficence?
To do good
What is involved in taking a non-judgemental approach?
Not discriminating on grounds of age, colour, sex, etc
It doesn’t matter how the patient got his/her condition/complaint
What is a duty of candour?
Being open and honest when something goes wrong in a patient’s treatment or care which causes or has potential to cause harm or distress
What should you do for the patient if something goes wrong in their care?
Apologise to the patient
Offer appropriate remedy or support to put matters right
Explain fully the short and long term effects of what has happened
