Principles of Medical Ethics and Law Flashcards
Why might doctors be considered to be ‘powerful’?
- Might be able to look at you naked
- Might be able to cut you open
- Might tell you that you are going to die
- Can decide that is in your best interests
Where do doctors rank in a list of most trusted professions?
Most trusted profession
What are ethics?
The body of moral principles or values governing or distinctive of a particular culture or group
Ethical principles can come from two traditions, what are these?
- Duties (known as deontology)
- “Right and wrong” actions by individuals or groups
- Known as absolute values
- Considering the benefits and harms to individuals and society, looking at the consequences not just to the individual (known as utilitarianism which is a type of consequentialism)
What comprises ethics?
- Principles
- Values
- Honesty
- Standards, rules of behaviour that guides decisions, procedures and conduct of individuals
What is morality?
Our attitudes, behaviours and relations to one another
What is consequentialism?
The moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome
What is utilarianism?
Is the greatest good for the greatest number (maximising pleasure/happiness and minimising pain/unhappiness)
What are medical ethics and clinical decisions based on?
- Duties
- Four principles
What are some of the duties of a doctor registered with the GMC?
What are the 4 principles?
- Respect for autonomy
- Promote the right to self determination
- Confidentiality, informed consent, promote capacity
- Non-malfeasance
- The avoidance of harm
- Beneficence
- To do good
- Justice
- Fairness/equity
- Non discrimination
- Equal treatment for equal need
- Individual vs population
- Rationing
- Limits to autonomy
- Fairness/equity
What does respect for autonomy mean?
- Promote the right to self determination
- Confidentiality, informed consent, promote capacity
What does non-malfeasance mean?
The avoidance of harm
What does beneficence mean?
To do good
What does justice consider?
- Fairness/equity
- Non discrimination
- Equal treatment for equal need
- Individual vs population
- Rationing
- Limits to autonomy