The Principles of Medical Law and ethics Flashcards
What are ethics?
The body of moral principles or values governing a distinctive of a particular culture or group
What are the 2 traditions of ethics?
Duties: “right” & “wrong”
Considering the benefits and harms to individual and society
What comprises ethics?
- Principles
- Values
- Honesty
- Standards
What are standards?
Rules of behaviour that guide the decisions, procedures and conduct of individuals
What does morality mean?
Our attitudes, behaviours and relations to one another
What does morality mean?
Our attitudes, behaviours and relations to one another
What is consequentialism?
The moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome
What is deontology?
Absolute right and wrong
What does utilitarianism mean?
Benefits and harms to individual and society as a whole (type of consequentialism)
How do duties affect clinical decision making?
Make the care of your patient your first concern
Respect the rights of patients to be fully involved
Recognise the limits
What are the 4 ethical principles of medicine?
Respect for autonomy
Non-malfeasance
Beneficence
Justice
What does respect for autonomy involve?
- 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 can justice be divided into?
Fairness/ equity
Individual vs Population
What does Fairness/ equity involve?
- Non discrimination
* Equal treatment for equal need
What does individual vs population involve?
- Rationing
* Limits to autonomy
What does a non-judgmental approach encompass?
- 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
Why is not imposing personal views & respecting patients’ views important?
- 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
What does confidentiality encompass?
Basis of trust
“Need to know” basis (including discussion of cases with others)
Rare occasions where confidentiality may / should be breached- legal reasons
What is important not to do in a clinical setting?
Don’t exceed your competency
What does fitness to practice encompass?
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.
When caring and treating a patient, which duty do you need to uphold?
A duty of candour
What does a duty of candour involve?
• 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
What does a duty of candour encompass?
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.
