Terms Flashcards
What is an advanced decision directive?
Decisions made when a person in competent to refuse specified treatment to take effect if mental capacity is lost in the future
What is autonomy?
Self rule, freedom from external constraint and the ability to exercise critical mental capacity
What is beneficence?
Provision of benefit and contribution to welfare
What is meant by best interests?
The criterion for determining whether treatment for patients lacking capacity is legally and morally justified. Includes consideration of benefits + harms of proposed treatment and values and views of the patient, when known
What is the definition of confidentiality?
The obligation to keep safe and not to disclose health information provided in the course of a professional relationship
What is a conscientious objection?
The right to refuse to participate in certain medical procedures based on religious or ethical grounds (eg abortion)
What is meant by Gillick competence?
Children under the age of 16 can consent to medical treatment if they have sufficient understanding and intelligence regarding the nature, purpose and likely consequences of the proposed treatment
What is justice?
Fair, equitable and appropriate decision making. Distributive justice refers to considerations of fairness in the allocation of scarce resources
What is the definition of negligence?
Conduct that falls below the standard reasonably expected in the circumstances. Damages can be awarded in compensation for harm caused.
What is meant by sanctity of life?
All life has intrinsic value irrespective of the features or quality of a particular life
What is substituted judgement?
The decision maker makes the decision that the patient would have made in the particular situation. This requires that the patient’s preferences, expressed when the patient had capacity, are known
