Principles of Medical Ethics

Question 1

the patient has the right to refuse or choose their treatment. (Voluntas aegroti suprema lex.)

Answer 1

autonomy

Question 2

a practitioner should act in the best interest of the patient. (Salus aegroti suprema lex)

Answer 2

beneficence

Question 3

“first, do no harm” (primum non nocere).

Answer 3

non maleficence

Question 4

concerns the distribution of scarce health resources, and the decision of who gets what treatment (fairness and equality).

Answer 4

justice

Question 5

the patient (and the person treating the patient) have the right to ________.

Answer 5

dignity

Question 6

the concept of informed consent has increased in importance since the historical events of the Doctors’ Trial of the Nuremberg trials and Tuskegee Syphilis Study.

Answer 6

truthfulness and honesty

Question 7

manifested in all its radiance when the person’s origin and destiny are considered: created by God in his image and likeness.

Answer 7

the dignity of the human person

Question 8

These include the most basic needs that are vital to survival, such as the need for water, air, food
and sleep. Maslow believed that these needs are the most basic and instinctive needs in the
hierarchy because all needs become secondary until these physiological needs are met.

Answer 8

physiological needs

Question 9

five levels of the hierarchy of needs

Answer 9

physiological
security
social
esteem
self-actualizing

Question 10

These include needs for safety and security. Security needs are important for survival, but they are
not as demanding as the physiological needs. Examples of security needs include a desire for
steady employment, health insurance, safe neighborhoods and shelter from the environment.

Answer 10

security needs

Question 11

These include needs for belonging, love and affection. Maslow considered these needs to be less
basic than physiological and security needs. Relationships such as friendships, romantic
attachments and families help fulfill this need for companionship and acceptance, as does
involvement in social, community or religious groups.

Answer 11

social needs

Question 12

After the first three needs have been satisfied, esteem needs becomes increasingly important.
These include the need for things that reflect on self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition and
accomplishment

Answer 12

esteem needs

Question 13

This is the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Self-actualizing people are self-aware,
concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others and interested fulfilling
their potential.

Answer 13

self actualizing needs

Question 14

action that is guided by reasons or actions that can be limited.

Answer 14

human acts

Question 15

instinctive; physiological.

Answer 15

acts of man

Question 16

1. The inner sense of what is right or wrong in one’s conduct ormotives, impelling one toward right action: to follow the dictates of conscience.
   2.The complex of ethical and moral principles that controls orinhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual.
   3.an inhibiting sense of what is prudent: l’d eat another pieceof ple but my conscience would bother me

Answer 16

conscience

Question 17

Health care providers may be expected to attend board meetings that may include
senior doctors or nurses. This requires the provider to be professional in collaborating with others, working as part of a team. The provider should be able to create a professional environment to help assure the patient that the health care facility’s services are trustworthy and reliable.

Answer 17

professionalism

Question 18

Health care providers should be able to handle stressful situations, such as caring for terminally ill patients. Other factors may also contribute to stress, such as dealing with the death of a patient. The provider must be emotionally stable and not allow these types of incidents affect job
performance.

Answer 18

emotional stability

Question 19

Health care providers should be neat in appearance. Most employers expect providers to be well groomed. In addition, many employers don’t allow heavy jewelry and accessories to be worn with the health provider’s uniform.

Answer 19

sharp appearance

Question 20

are essential to a health provider. Providers should have the ability to communicate with patients and families about care plans and hospital policies. The
provider should also be a good listener when addressing a patient’s concerns or needs. Providers may be required to c o m m u n i c a t e with other employees to help provide patient care.

Answer 20

good communicator

Question 21

Health care providers usually deal with patients who are severely il. They must provide a
caring and warm environment to help ease the patient’s discomfort. The provider should be
compassionate a n d able to speak kind words to the patient.

Answer 21

caring

Question 22

Health care providers, specifically those who work in hospitals, may be required to work long
hours that include weekends and holidays. They may be required to be on-call in the event of an
emergency. Providers must be flexible and wiling to arrange their work schedules to meet their
employer’s needs.

Answer 22

flexible

Question 23

Health care providers should follow directions carefully to help avoid errors, specifically when administering a patient’s medication.

Answer 23

detail oriented

Question 24

Simply trying to copy a successful organization’s practices does not work. First understand why the organization is successful-what philosophy, values, and principles have led to
its success

Answer 24

put the why before the how

Question 25

“Teaching is a way of knowing, and so is doing the work…” Mentoring or coaching programs that get people involved in teaching others are an excellent way to put knowledge into action.

Answer 25

knowing comes from doing and teaching

Question 26

“Failure to act is the only true failure.” Action creates opportunities for learning by doing. Without action, learning is not grounded in real experience.

Answer 26

actions count more than plans

Question 27

“Punish inaction, not unsuccessful actions.” When someone makes a mistake, practice a culture of “forgive and remember.” Embrace the mistake as an
opportunity for leaming and avoid making the same mistake again.

Answer 27

tolerate mistakes and learn from them

Question 28

Pressure and fear often make people do iralional things. “No one is going to try something new if the reward is likely to be a career disaster.” Strong hierarchies and status symbols
reinforce power distance and fear in the organization.

Answer 28

eliminate fear

Question 29

Most innovations are made in cultures of collaboration, not dog-eat-dog infighting. Be hard on the competitors, but go easy on your colleagues.

Answer 29

fight the competition not each other

Question 30

The old saying goes, “you get what you measure.” If you measure individual performance, you will end up with a small group of star performers in a mediocre organization. “Focus
attention on factors critical to organizational success.”

Answer 30

measure what matters

Question 31

“Leaders create environments, reinforce norms, and help set expectations through
what they do. through their actions and not just their words.” Smart leaders act to encourage learning by doing-and their organizations ore better for it.

Answer 31

leadership matters