module three Flashcards
what is ethics
- the study of what we should do and why
- it is the various ways of thinking about, understanding and examining how best to live a moral life
what is morality
the distinction between right and wrong behaviour
what is bioethics
is it human behaviour in the life sciences and healthcare
what is ethical competence
- an experience acquired through the combination of knowledge and practice
- it is the ability to respect the patients rights and the quality of care
what are the four main ethical principles with examples
- autonomy- self determination e.g the right for a patient to be informed of their treatment options and consequences before consenting
- beneficence- above all, do good e.g assisting a patient with essential cares
- non-maleficence- above all, do no harm e.g bedrails up so patients does not fall out of bed, check patient allergies before administering medication and giving food
- justice- fairness e.g respect for peoples rights, targeted vaccination drive for vulnerable populations
what is ethical theory
formal statements about what we ought to do, when faced with an ethical dilemma.
what are personal values
- personal beliefs about what matters, that guide our decision making and behaviour
- we need awareness around our own values so that we can be sensitive to the values of others, without trying to influence them
normative and descriptive ethics
- normative- concerned with standards of correctness/ what should happen here e.g. decisions based on a code of conduct
- descriptive ethics- concerned with what does happen here e.g. decision based on beliefs about the right thing to do here
what are new zealands examples of unethical research
- nuremberg code
- greenlane heart babies
- cartwright inquiry-
what are the liberal positions with regards to ethics and the start of life (including abortion)
end of life
- gives the individuals who have a terminal illness (and meet the criteria) with a lawful option of requesting medical assistance to end their lives
- aims to promote compassion and preservation of dignity
abortion
- it is morally permissible on demand
- since a fetus is not a person, they cannot meaningfully claim a right to life
- genetically a human but not a person
what are the conservative positions with regards to ethics and the start of life (including abortion)
end of life
- risk of abuse
- discrimination
- irrational or imprudent choice
- slippery slope argument
- clinical uncertainty
abortion
- abortion is an absolute moral wrong
- if abortion is permitted, then respect for the sanctity of human life will be diminished, making it easier for human life to be taken in other circumstances
- foetus is a human
what is the gillick competence as it relates to the age of consent
- minors may authorise medical treatment
- it would be arbitrary and unreal to draw a line between childhood and maturity at a certain number of years
a child is gillick competent regardless of their age if they can;
- understand relevant information given to them
- retain information long enough to beable to make the decision
- weigh up the information to make the decision
- communicate their decision
ethics and end of life
end of life
- individual autonomy
- the right to choose
- loss of dignity
- reduction of suffering
- justice- the demand to be treated fairly
what is the eligibility criteria for assisted dying and safeguards for end of life choice
eligibility
- over 18 years of age
- a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand
- suffering from a terminal illness that is likely to end their life within 6 months
- in an advanced state of irreversible decline in physical capability
- experiencing unbearable suffering that cannot be relieved in a manner that the person considers tolerable
- competent to make an informed decision about assisted dying
safeguards
- person has capacity
- diagnosis is correct
- cooling off period occurs
- clinical depression is ruled out
- absence of discrimination against minority groups
- palliative care/ hospice options explained
the privacy code
- only collect what you need
- get it from the person concerned
- tell them what you are doing
- be considerate when collecting information
- take care of information once you have it
- people can see their information if they want
- people can ask to have information corrected
- check it before you use it
- get rid of it once you’re done
- only use it for the reasons you got it