Vol.1-Ch.8 "Ethics in Paramedicine"

Question 1

Ethics VS Morality

Answer 1

Morality - Generally considered to be social, religious, or personal standards of right and wrong

Ethics - (moral philosophy) a branch of philosophy that answers questions of morality ; more often refers to the riles or standards that govern the conduct of members of a particular group or profession

Question 2

Ethical relativism = ?

Answer 2

Each person must decide how to behave and whatever decision they make is ok

Question 3

Deontological method = ?

Answer 3

People should just fulfill their duties

Question 4

Consequentialism = ?
Utilitarian = ?

Answer 4

Consequentialism is the belief that we only know if a decision is good or bad once you see what the results of the decision are

Utilitarians believe that the only good decisions are the ones that bring about the greatest happiness to the most people

Question 5

Single most important questions an medic will ask themselves?

Answer 5

“what is in the Pts best interest”

Question 6

What are the 4 fundamental principals used to resolve problems in bioethics?

Answer 6

• Beneficence : “doing good”, the obligation of the medic to the Pt to do good for them.
  (as opposed to benevolence = desire to do good)
• Nonmaleficence : “not doing harm”, responsibility of medic to reduce risk as much as possible
  (opposite of maleficence = doing harm)
  (primum non nocere = first, do no harm)
• Autonomy : a Pts right to make their own decisions about their body and treatment if properly informed and competent
• Justice : medics obligation to treat all Pts fairly

Question 7

what are the steps in making an ethical decision?

Answer 7

1. Identify the problem
2. List the possible actions to take
3. Test an action
4. Universalize it
5. List the immediate and long term consequences
6. Compare the consequences with relevant values
7. If inconsistent then test other actions until exhausted and if there is no ethic validation then it is not ethical

Question 8

Impartiality Test = ?

Answer 8

Ask yourself if you would be willing to under-go the procedure or action if you were in the Pts shoes

Question 9

Universalizability test = ?

Answer 9

Ask yourself if you would want the action to be performed in all relevant situations

Question 10

Interpersonal Justifiability Test = ?

Answer 10

Can you defend or justify your actions to others