Medical law and ethics

Question 1

Read the GMC guidelines

Answer 1

Never discriminate unfairly against patients or colleagues in any matter. Must always be prepared to justify your actions

Question 2

GMC will not take lightly to things you consider trifling

Question 3

What are the 4 ethical principles?

Answer 3

autonomy
beneficence
non-maleficence
justice

Question 4

What is autonomy?

Answer 4

Informed consent before treatment, confidentiality, honesty(lack of deceit and white lies), good communication

Question 5

What is beneficence?

Answer 5

doing the right thing for the patient
respecting autonomy
incorporates empowerment - help patient make appropriate decisions

Question 6

What is non-maleficence?

Question 7

What is jsutice?

Question 8

Where can guidance be found?

Answer 8

GMC, BMA

Question 9

How can doctors be involved in the criminal law?

Answer 9

homicide - murder and manslaughter
abortion
drug related offences
fraud
theft
assault and others

Question 10

How does Duty of Candour conflict with self incrimination?

Answer 10

First one says you must be upfront with patients about anything that has gone wrong
There is a right to not incriminate yourself - but only in criminal matters not civil litigation
Now a duty for doctors to join a defense organisation or take out malpractice insurance

Question 11

What is gross negligence manslaughter?

Answer 11

duty of care is breached - one that causes death
nature of breach is so gross that punishment by law is necessary, not merely compensation in the Civil Court

Question 12

When is abortion legal?

Answer 12

When the Abortion Act 1968 is followed to the letter

Question 13

What is assault in medical practice? When is it necessary to act without consent?

Answer 13

If a patient is unable to give consent, you can only give the treatment necessary to preserve life and limb in an emergency
Consent and treatment in children, the mentally ill and others are much more complex

Question 14

What is the Duty of candour?

Answer 14

Registered persons must as soon as reasonably practical notify a service user (or person lawfully acting on their behalf) when an unintended or unexpected incident occurs

Question 15

Not getting sued?

Answer 15

Keep meticulous, contemporaneous records, dated and signed
Don’t practice outside your capabilities
Keep up to date/look stuff up!!
Be nice to patients and everyone basically
Ask senior more experienced colleagues if in doubt
JOIN A DEFENSE ORGANISATION