Principles of Medical Ethics Flashcards
Define Medical Principles
are a person’s individual believes of what is good or bad, right or wrong, or appropriate behaviour.
Define Ethical Stadards
Is a system of moral principles that is applied in a specific population or group.
Define Medical Ethics
Medical ethics (or bioethics) is the application of ethical standards to the medical profession, which guides the relationship between the patient and the medical professional.
In South Africa, medical ethical standards are maintained and enforced by the Health
Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
Define Bioethics
Bioethics has become the study and critical analysis of the ethical issues that arise
in the inter-relationships between law, medicine, life sciences, theology, and
biotechnology. Bio-ethical principles, human rights, and the law are interlinked.
Medical ethical principles are supported by the Constitution of South Africa, as well
as Statutory and Common law. A breach of these ethical principles and the
Constitution may lead to an action for medical negligence or professional malpractice
Which Factors guide the Standards of Medical Ethics
- The moral principles of the medical profession, and
2. The expectations of patients.
What is the difference between Law and Ethics
Law:
Applies to everyone Established by legislature Formal, codified Interpreted by court precedent Penalty is imprisonment or a fine
Ethics:
Applicable by choice
Established by individuals or Social Groups
Unwritten principles and morals
Interpreted by individuals or Groups
Penalty is social unacceptance or Expulsion from a group(HPCSA)
According to the HPCSA, what are the core ethical values and standards required of health care practitioners?
- Respect for persons:
Health care practitioners should respect patients as persons, and acknowledge their
intrinsic worth, dignity, and sense of value.
- Non-maleficence:
Health care practitioners should not harm or act against the best interests of patients, even when the interests of the latter conflict with their own self-interest.
- Beneficence:
Health care practitioners should act in the best interests of patients even when the interests of the latter conflict with their own personal self-interest.
- Human rights:
Health care practitioners should recognize the human rights of all individuals.
- Autonomy:
Health care practitioners should honor the right of patients to self-determination or to make their own informed choices, and to live their lives by their own beliefs, values, and preferences.
- Integrity:
Health care practitioners should incorporate these core ethical values and standards as the foundation for their character and practice as responsible health care professionals.
- Truthfulness:
Health care practitioners should regard the truth and truthfulness as the basis of trust in their professional relationships with patients.
- Confidentiality:
Health care practitioners should treat personal or private information as confidential in professional relationships with their patients unless overriding reasons confer a moral or legal right to disclosure.
- Compassion:
Health care practitioners should be sensitive to, and empathize with, the individual and social needs of their patients and seek to create mechanisms for providing comfort and support where appropriate and possible.
- Tolerance:
Health care practitioners should respect the rights of people to have different ethical beliefs as these may arise from deeply held personal, religious or cultural convictions.
- Justice:
Health care practitioners should treat all individuals and groups in an impartial, fair and just manner.
- Professional competence and self-improvement:
Health care practitioners should continually endeavour to attain the highest level of knowledge and skills required within their area of practice.
- Community:
Health care practitioners should strive to contribute to the betterment of society in accordance with their professional abilities and standing in the community
What are the Four Pillars of Modern Medical Ethics
The source of modern Western medical ethics is believed to be Hippocrates (Greek physician (460 BC – 370 BC)).
The “Hippocratic Oath” is thought to be one of the
oldest documented medical ethical approaches.
Although it has been modernized and improved, most of the standards contained in that document still pertains today.
Modern Western Medical Ethical approaches contain four principles or pillars, namely:
i) Autonomy,
ii) Beneficence,
iii) Non-maleficence, and
iv) Justice.
These pillars should be considered equal. Their application in ethical decision making is however not always equal, and so different approaches have been used.
Pillars of Modern Medical Ethics:
Autonomy
Right to freedom and security of the person.
The principle of respect for decision-making capacities of autonomous persons, allowing them to make
reasoned informed choices.
Acknowledge and respect for autonomy of all persons.
Protect autonomy of persons with diminished autonomy e.g. minors.
Pillars of Modern Medical Ethics:
Beneficence
Right to human dignity.
Healthcare professionals have a moral “obligation” to act in such a way as to benefit their patients.
What can I do, beyond mere duty, to benefit my patient?
Pillars of Modern Medical Ethics:
Non-Maleficence
Right to life.
The principle of non-harming: Primum non nocere or “First do no harm”. All medical interventions have a risk of harm.
The benefit of management should outweigh the risk of harm.
Pillars of Modern Medical Ethics:
Justice
Right to equality.
All persons are equal, and no one should be discriminated against.
Distributive justice of limited health resources.
Non-discrimination
Paternalistic approach:
The historical approach where more emphasis was placed on beneficence and non-maleficence.
Patient Autonomy approach:
20th century with more emphasis on autonomy.
Shared Decision-Making approach:
A modern approach with now more emphasis on shared decision making between the doctor and patient
