Psychology - ethics of healthcare Flashcards
What are ethics?
Moral principles which affect an individuals behaviour to both individuals & society
Systemises concepts of right & wrong
Not neccessarily legally bound (more general & informal)
Own personal decisions (common sense)
What is law?
A set of clearly defined rules
What sort of person should a dentist be?
- Good = concrete
- Human excellence = rational (moral & intellectual values)
- Person of sound sentiment (clear thinking -> patients tell you their problems and you do what you should)
- Fellow-feeling = empathy & sumpathy
Why do ethics vary between individuals?
Their common sense & conscience vary due to differences in their upbringing, outlook, values, moral and religious beliefs, cultural, social and ethical backgrounds
Why is ethics not what is right vs what is wrong?
It is less clear cut more like what is more right and least wrong e.g. cost, reasources, patients want & dentists knowledge)
= different answers in different situations (every patient & context is different)
What is a profession?
An individual with special knowledge & skills in a widely recongised body of learning
A body of individuals who declare they are willing to serve the public, accept personal responsibility for their actions & voluntarily submit to a code of ethical conduct
What is Bolums law?
If something goes wrong you are judged upon what a reasonable body of people like you (i.e. dentist not specialist/expert/consultant) would do in that situation
What is the code of conduct (clinical ethics)?
A commitment to treat patients and sociaety fairly and according to professional standards
i.e. an attempt to unravel the rights and wrongs of different areas of health care practice in the light of philosophical analysis (is dental care a: right/privilege/obligation/commodity?)
What are the ethics of care (virtue ethics)?
A sensitive appreciation of practical needs, caring responses and resulting wisdom
What is it to be a person of sensitivity and integrity?
Of sound character
Kindness, generosity, respect, honesty & compassion
Back to individual opinions (or morals)
= potentially can be taught
What is non-malificence?
First do no harm
(unncessary treatment, charging too much, cheating, what you are trained to do)
What is benificence?
Promote well-being
(doing your best to make the patient well, what is right for the patient -> not totals etc. or performing patients you havent learnt yet)
What is respect for autonomy?
Respect for individuals choice
(self determination, provide appropriate information about condition, periodically review patients judged as incompetant/without capacity, power balance/ equal part in decision/ shared or paternalistic, how much do you know about the patient?)
What is justice?
treating people equally and fairly
(taking responsibility for your actions and not blaming the system, basic level of care)
