SAP - Ethics Flashcards
Define ethics
Ethics - set of moral principles and a code for behaviour that
govern an individual’s actions with other individuals and
within society
• Morality is what people believe to be right and good,
ethics is a critical reflection about morality
Describe the relevance of ethics to medicine
Medical ethics = set of principles and rules governing the conduct of
doctors which are morally binding, both by the
profession and generally by the public, as the
ideal standard of professional conduct
GMC: Patients are entitled to good standards of practice and care
from their doctors
-professional competence
-good relationships with patients and colleagues
-observance of professional ethical obligations
• Describe the four principle approach to bioethics and its
limitations
- Autonomy
- Beneficence
- Non-maleficence
- Justice
Describe the professional responsibilities and standards of professional behaviour expected of medical students
-Students learn a professional value system as it is
portrayed by the institution they attend and by the faculty
attitudes towards each other and towards their profession
• Describe the principle features of deontological, utilitarian and
virtue ethics and the ethics of care
1. Deontology: Looks to one’s obligation to determine what is ethical and answers the question: What should I do and why should I do it? Deontology: A duty
- Consequentialism
• ethical decision-making based on an analysis of the
likely consequences of one’s conduct which are the
ultimate basis for any judgment about the rightness or
wrongness of that conduct
• right action produces the best outcomes - UTILITARIANISM
• the best action is the one that maximizes utility
• uses ‘utility’ as its measure and defines this as ‘the
greatest good for the greatest number’
Also answers the question:
What should I do and why should I do it? - VIRTUE ETHICS
• focuses less on decision-making and more on the character of
decision-makers as reflected in their behaviour
• virtue is a type of moral excellence e.g.
compassion
honesty
prudence
dedication
• physicians possessing these virtues are more likely to make
good decisions and to implement them in a good way
Hippocratic oath
I will follow that system of regimen, which,
according to my ability and judgment, I consider for
the benefit of my patients, and abstain from
whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give
no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest
any such counsel
• Describe the content of GMC’s ethical guidance
In ‘guidance for doctors’ we set out the professional values, knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of all doctors working in the UK.
Elements of Informed Consent
• Diagnosis
• Nature and purpose of the proposed treatment or
procedure
• Risks and side effects of the proposed treatment
• Prognosis (probability of treatment success)
• Alternatives to the proposed treatment
– discuss risks, benefits and consequences of “no
treatment”
Exceptions to Informed Consent
• necessary treatment in a medical emergency
• under certain circumstances (including pursuant to
mental health legislation) where patients are a
danger to the lives or health of others or
themselves and
• where the law provides for compulsory treatment
- BENEFICIENCE
Duty to promote the good of the patient
- Do not harm
- Maximize possible benefits
- Minimize possible harm
- Direct benefit to subject
- Overall benefits to society
3 constraints on Beneficence
- Need to respect autonomy
patient and doctor may differ re: management - Need to ensure health is not bought at too high a price
- Need to consider rights of others
- NON -MALEFICENCE
the duty not to inflict harm or injury, which should
always be considered together with beneficence
- JUSTICE
obligation to provide others with whatever they are
owed or deserve equally, fairly, and impartially
Fair distribution of benefits – Equal shares – Equal individual need – Equal individual effort – Equal societal contribution – Equal merit
Confidentiality
• Ensuring that information is accessible only to those
authorized to have access
• From a medical standpoint
-legal protections prevent physicians from revealing
their discussions with patients, even under oath in
court
Exceptions to Medical Confidentiality
• Pt gives written and valid consent to other participating professionals • Where it is undesirable to seek patient’s consent, information can be given to a close relative • Statutory requirements - Ordered by Court - Public interest - Approved Research
