The Principles of Medical Law and ethics

Question 1

What are ethics?

Answer 1

The body of moral principles or values governing a distinctive of a particular culture or group

Question 2

What are the 2 traditions of ethics?

Answer 2

Duties: “right” & “wrong”

Considering the benefits and harms to individual and society

Question 3

What comprises ethics?

Answer 3

• Principles
• Values
• Honesty
• Standards

Question 4

What are standards?

Answer 4

Rules of behaviour that guide the decisions, procedures and conduct of individuals

Question 5

What does morality mean?

Answer 5

Our attitudes, behaviours and relations to one another

Question 6

What does morality mean?

Answer 6

Our attitudes, behaviours and relations to one another

Question 7

What is consequentialism?

Answer 7

The moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome

Question 8

What is deontology?

Answer 8

Absolute right and wrong

Question 9

What does utilitarianism mean?

Answer 9

Benefits and harms to individual and society as a whole (type of consequentialism)

Question 10

How do duties affect clinical decision making?

Answer 10

Make the care of your patient your first concern
Respect the rights of patients to be fully involved
Recognise the limits

Question 11

What are the 4 ethical principles of medicine?

Answer 11

Respect for autonomy
Non-malfeasance
Beneficence
Justice

Question 12

What does respect for autonomy involve?

Answer 12

• Promote the right to self determination

* Confidentiality, informed consent, promote capacity

Question 13

What does Non-malfeasance mean?

Answer 13

The avoidance of harm

Question 14

What does beneficence mean?

Answer 14

To do good

Question 15

What can justice be divided into?

Answer 15

Fairness/ equity

Individual vs Population

Question 16

What does Fairness/ equity involve?

Answer 16

• Non discrimination

* Equal treatment for equal need

Question 17

What does individual vs population involve?

Answer 17

• Rationing

* Limits to autonomy

Question 18

What does a non-judgmental approach encompass?

Answer 18

• It doesn’t matter how the patient got his/her condition / complaint
• No such thing as an undeserving patient
• GMC states that you must not discriminate on grounds of age, colour, culture etc

Question 19

Why is not imposing personal views & respecting patients’ views important?

Answer 19

• Fair presentation of facts/options
• Not letting your views affect your advice / actions
• Willingness to refer elsewhere
• Not bullying / belittling etc (also applies to colleagues, juniors, other health workers etc0

Question 20

What does confidentiality encompass?

Answer 20

Basis of trust
“Need to know” basis (including discussion of cases with others)
Rare occasions where confidentiality may / should be breached- legal reasons

Question 21

What is important not to do in a clinical setting?

Answer 21

Don’t exceed your competency

Question 22

What does fitness to practice encompass?

Answer 22

You have a specific duty to take appropriate action to protect patients, not just by your own actions but also to protect patients if you or others are unfit to practise.

Question 23

When caring and treating a patient, which duty do you need to uphold?

Answer 23

A duty of candour

Question 24

What does a duty of candour involve?

Answer 24

• you must be open and honest with patients when something goes wrong with a patient’s treatment or care which causes, or has the potential to cause, harm or distress.
If you are unsure of the consequences

• Immediately seek the advice of an appropriate senior colleague to peer review your view and subsequently tell the patient

Question 25

What does a duty of candour encompass?

Answer 25

Apologising to the patient
Offering a remedy or support to put matters right
Explain fully the long and short term effects
Raise concerns if a patients best interests potentially or have been compromised
Be open and honest with all parties and relevant organisations
You must take part in reviews and investigations when requested.