Module 1: Ethics in Health care management and public health policy

Question 1

Give me a definition of law

Answer 1

The body of enforceable rules which goever a defined community.

Question 2

Is the state a monolithic institution unified and coherent in its approach to social issues OR A dispersed set of problematics around the government of populations? And what problem does this create?

Answer 2

Obviously the latter. It creates the problem that the aims and practices of the state are often competing and even contradictory. This can produce ethical dilemmas for those who work in public health or health administration.

Question 3

One of hte criticisms of ethical frameworks is that in focussing on individual authonomy, they neglect [] that influence the interests and behaviour of people.

Answer 3

Economic, politial and cultural forces.

Society is not the sum of individual dissociated parts but the connections and relationships between parties.

Question 4

Contemporary bioethecists deinf autonomy in liberal terms (ie self-rule) and others define it as ‘respect for persons’.

Which is the more appropriate in matters of public health?

Answer 4

The latter. Autonomy in public health is about showing regard for people’s choices, decisions, values, beliefs, needs and desires.

Question 5

‘The State’ is central to public health and health care administration. How can ‘the state’ be defined?

Answer 5

A number of institutions including parliament, bureaucracies and the judiciary (turner 1998).

Question 6

Last week’s readings introduced libertarian moral philosophies that emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries; among the thinkers of this period, [] thought of liberty as being in everyone’s right, and it should only be curbed if [].

Answer 6

John Stuart Mill

it encroaches on another’s liberty or causes serious harm to others

Question 7

What is ethics?

Answer 7

It is a branch of philosophy which deals with morality ie what we ought to do.

Question 8

What sources is Australian Law derived from?

Answer 8

Common law - made by judges in courts Statutes - Made in parliaments by legislation (federal, state and territory)

Question 9

Autonomy stands to protect patients from [] and [].

Respecting patient autonomy acknowledgtes [] that exists between practitioners and patients.

Answer 9

Paternalism, Coercion

Power relationsihp

Question 10

What does ‘per se’ mean

Answer 10

By or initself or themselves or ‘intrinsically’ e.e.g it is not theese facts per se that are important

Question 11

The principle of authonomy: there are a number of historical, political and economic factors that have contributed to its centrality in healthcare. Can you name some of them:

Answer 11

• Patient movment that challenged ‘doctor knows best’ paternalistic practices during 1960s
• The womens movement which paved hte way for reproductive freedom.
• The consumer movement in the 1960s. The public wanted more information and choice re how capital was invested in health care.
• Consumer activism has led to scrutiny of institutions.
• The increasing power of the media.
• Increasing lay knowledge and information about health issues.

Question 12

What does ‘writ large’ mean?

Answer 12

Clear and obvious - the unspoken question was writ large upon Rose’ face

Question 13

Autonomy, and autonomous choice are a combination of liberty and __________

Answer 13

Agency

Question 14

_______ is a key tool for evaluation the effects of laws and whether changes are required.

Answer 14

Ethical reasoning

Question 15

The _____________ is a federal agency that reviews Austrlaia’s laws to ensure they provide improved access to justice for all Australians by making laws and related processes more equitable, modern, fair and efficient.

Answer 15

Australian Law Reform Commission