prelim Flashcards
What is the role of technology in nursing ethics?
Technology has expanded the role of the nurse and increased ethical dilemmas associated with client care.
What does the Principle of Double Effect consider?
It considers moral values and allows an act that has both good and evil effects, provided the evil is not intended.
List the guiding elements of the Principle of Double Effect.
- The act must be good in itself or at least morally neutral
- The good must not follow as a consequence of the secondary harmful effects
- The harm must never be intended but merely tolerated as casually connected with the good intended
- The good must outweigh the harm
When can the Principle of Double Effect not be invoked?
- When the act by its nature is evil
- When the good effect directly proceeds from the evil effect
- When there is no sufficient reason for the performance of an act with two effects
- When the motive of the agent is not honest
Define cooperation in the context of bioethics.
Cooperation is the participation of one agent with another to produce a particular or joint effect.
What does solidarity mean in healthcare?
Solidarity means to be one with others in the provision of healthcare and to seek the patient’s best interest.
What is the principle of veracity?
The obligation to tell the truth and not to deceive others.
List the rules of veracity.
- Obligation to tell the truth
- Not to lie or deceive others
- Respect for others
- Implicit promise
- Relationships of trust
What does confidentiality relate to in bioethics?
Confidentiality relates to the concept of privacy regarding individual information.
When can confidential information be revealed?
- When the patient permits such revelation
- In medico-legal cases
- If the patient has a communicable disease
- To members of the health team if relevant to care
Differentiate nursing malpractice from nursing negligence.
Malpractice occurs when a nurse fails to meet the expected standard of care, while negligence refers to a breach in the standard of care.
What is nursing malpractice?
Nursing malpractice is a type of negligence where a nurse fails to provide the expected standard of care, resulting in patient harm.
Provide examples of nursing malpractice.
- Failing to turn or reposition a patient
- Failing to provide adequate nutrition
- Administering the wrong medication
- Failing to document patient care
What is the definition of ethics?
A set of principles of right or good conduct concerned with values and morality.
What are the three divisions of ethics?
- Metaethics
- Normative ethics
- Applied ethics
Define Christian health ethics.
Christian health ethics is based on the belief that each human being is created by God, hence their worth is derived from biblical teachings.
What are the elements determining morality?
- The act itself
- Purpose of the act
- Circumstances affecting the act
Fill in the blank: The obligation to tell the truth is known as ______.
[Veracity]
True or False: Negligence requires that the healthcare professional violate standards of care.
False
What is the primary responsibility of nurses according to the Code of Ethics?
To preserve health at all costs.
What does the term ‘morality’ refer to?
Quality of human acts where acts could either be good or evil based on right reason.
What is the aim of moral philosophy?
To discuss what is considered good or bad, right or wrong in moral issues.
What is the definition of Christian Health Ethics?
Each human being is created by God in His own image and likeness, thus the worth of the person is based on biblical teachings.
What is the best way to solve ethical issues in health care delivery?
Appeal to God since He is the source of truth, morals, and justice.
What are the elements determining morality?
- The act itself
- Purpose - reason for which the act is performed
- Circumstances - factors distinct from the act itself and from the purpose which may affect the morality of an act
Define Ethics.
The study of morality.
Define Bioethics.
The science that deals with the study of human conduct concerning human life in all its aspects from conception to natural end.
What is Health Ethics?
Science that deals with the study of morality of human conduct concerning health and health care.
What does Professional Ethics relate to?
Professional behavior, including moral duty or obligation to the public, profession, colleagues, and clients.
How does Morality provide a perspective for Ethics?
Morality gives ethics a perspective of what to study about the goodness or badness of an act.
What is the distinction between Ethics and Morality?
Ethics pertains to the knowledge of what to study about goodness or evil; morality pertains to the application of this knowledge in the performance of human acts.
What is the significance of Bioethics?
Keeps health professionals aware of do’s and don’ts of medical practice and enhances competence by understanding that the patient is a holistic individual.
What is the Nightingale Pledge?
A pledge by nursing professionals to practice their profession faithfully, abstain from harmful actions, and maintain confidentiality.
What are the three main functions of Professional Ethics?
- To reassure the public
- To provide guidelines for the profession to discipline and regulate its members
- To provide a framework for individual members to formulate decisions
What are the criteria of a profession?
- Must satisfy an indispensable social need
- Must demand adequate pre-professional and cultural training
- Must possess a body of specialized training
- Must have developed a scientific technique based on tested experience
True or False: Bioethics is a part of Health Ethics.
False. Health ethics is a part of bioethics.
What are the Five Pillars of Islamism?
- Confession of Creed
- Prayer
- Charity
- Observance of Ramadan
- Pilgrimage to Mecca
What are the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?
- Life is the root of all suffering
- Suffering is caused by desires
- Desires can be eliminated by negating life
- Elimination of desires can be achieved by accumulating karma
What is the ethical question regarding truth-telling in health care?
Should health professionals tell everything about their patient’s health status or is it ethical to withhold the truth from dying patients?
Fill in the blank: Professional Ethics includes moral duty or obligation to the _______.
[public, profession, colleagues, clients]
What is Kantian Ethics?
A moral theory that emphasizes duty and the motive behind actions, independent of consequences.
According to Kant, what is always wrong, regardless of consequences?
Lying.
What does Kant argue regarding treating people?
We must always treat people (including ourselves) as ends, not merely as means.
True or False: The greatest value in Christianism is Love.
True.
What is the role of ethics in nursing?
To evaluate merits, risks, and social concerns of activities in nursing.
What is a key responsibility of nursing students according to the Code of Ethics?
Advocate the rights of all clients.
What ethical dilemma is presented in the Somera Case?
A nurse failed to question a doctor’s order, leading to a patient’s death.
What is the primary focus of Nursing Ethics?
Ethico-moral behavior in the practice of nursing.
What should a nurse do if a patient refuses treatment?
Respect the patient’s autonomy and preferences.
What is the significance of health care ethics?
Increases awareness of best medical practices among health workers.
What is the difference between perfect and imperfect duties in Kant’s ethics?
Some rights should always be fulfilled (perfect duties), while others may be fulfilled based on circumstances (imperfect duties).
What is the relevance of bioethics?
Varies from birth to end of life.
According to Kant, what is a mortal violation?
Suicide.
What does the categorical imperative dictate?
An action is right if it satisfies moral dictates forbidding lying, stealing, killing, and breaking promises.
True or False: Good results can make an action morally right according to Kantian ethics.
False.
What distinguishes perfect duties from imperfect duties?
Some rights should be recognized.
What legitimate claims can a patient make once accepted?
- Not to be harmed
- Not to be lied to
- Not to be deceived
What ethical dilemma does truth-telling present in oncology nursing?
Nurses must decide what information to tell cancer patients.
Who did most oncology nurses believe was responsible for truth-telling?
The physician.
What is distributive justice?
Fair allocation of scarce resources among equals.
Provide an example of a system that demonstrates distributive justice.
Philhealth for persons over the age of 60.
List the criteria for distributive justice according to Rawl’s Ethics.
- Equal share
- According to need
- According to effort
- According to contribution
- According to merit
- According to free-market exchanges
What does Ross’s Theory focus on?
Conflicting duties and moral obligations.
What does ‘prima facie’ mean?
At first view or as it appears.
What is the Principle of Stewardship?
Responsibility to take care of what has been entrusted.
What are the basic bioethical moral principles?
- Principle of Stewardship
- Principle of Beneficence
- Principle of Non-maleficence
What does the Principle of Beneficence entail?
Good must be done to oneself or others.
What are the three major components of Beneficence?
- Promote good
- Prevent harm
- Remove evil or harm
What does the Principle of Non-maleficence emphasize?
Evil or harm should not be inflicted on oneself or others.
Fill in the blank: The duty to keep promises and tell the truth is known as the _______.
Duty of Fidelity.
What is the duty of Non-maleficence?
Duty to not injure others.
According to St. Thomas Aquinas, what is the highest good?
A beatific vision of God.
What does the Principle of Double Effect state?
An act can have two effects, one intended and the other foreseen.
What is virtue ethics in nursing?
An approach focusing on the moral character and dispositions of nurses.
What creates ethical problems in healthcare?
- Changes in society
- Advances in technology
- Scientific advances
- Conflicts within nurses
What does the duty of Reparation involve?
Compensating others when harm has been done.
What is an example of a violation of Non-maleficence?
Physically harming a person through suicide or abortion.
