Principles of Medical Ethics and Law

Question 1

Why might doctors be considered to be ‘powerful’?

Answer 1

• Might be able to look at you naked
• Might be able to cut you open
• Might tell you that you are going to die
• Can decide that is in your best interests

Question 2

Where do doctors rank in a list of most trusted professions?

Answer 2

Most trusted profession

Question 3

What are ethics?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Ethical principles can come from two traditions, what are these?

Answer 4

1. Duties (known as deontology)
   
   1. “Right and wrong” actions by individuals or groups
   2. Known as absolute values
2. Considering the benefits and harms to individuals and society, looking at the consequences not just to the individual (known as utilitarianism which is a type of consequentialism)

Question 5

What comprises ethics?

Answer 5

• Principles
• Values
• Honesty
• Standards, rules of behaviour that guides decisions, procedures and conduct of individuals

Question 6

What is morality?

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 utilarianism?

Answer 8

Is the greatest good for the greatest number (maximising pleasure/happiness and minimising pain/unhappiness)

Question 9

What are medical ethics and clinical decisions based on?

Answer 9

1. Duties
2. Four principles

Question 10

What are some of the duties of a doctor registered with the GMC?

Answer 10

Question 11

What are the 4 principles?

Answer 11

• Respect for autonomy
  
  • Promote the right to self determination
  • Confidentiality, informed consent, promote capacity
• Non-malfeasance
  
  • The avoidance of harm
• Beneficence
  
  • To do good
• Justice
  
  • Fairness/equity
    
    • Non discrimination
    • Equal treatment for equal need
  • Individual vs population
    
    • Rationing
    • Limits to autonomy

Question 12

What does respect for autonomy mean?

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 does justice consider?

Answer 15

• Fairness/equity
  
  • Non discrimination
  • Equal treatment for equal need
• Individual vs population
  
  • Rationing
  • Limits to autonomy

Question 16

Other than the 4 principles, what else is considered when approaching medical ethics?

Answer 16

• Non-judgemental approach
  
  • It doesn’t matter how the patient got to their condition/complaint
  • Examples of things you cannot discriminate based ona re age, colour, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, lifestyle, martial status, race, religion
• Not imposing personal views and respecting patients views
• Confidentiality
  
  • Need to know basis
  • Rare occasion when confidentiality should be breached
• Not exceeding your competency
• Fitness to practice

Question 17

What, of particular note, does the ethical code include of all healthcare workers?

Answer 17

Duty of Candour

“I understand and will uphold that all those caring for the treating patients are bound by a Duty of Candour”

Question 18

What does a Duty of Candour mean?

Answer 18

This means must be honest with patients when something goes wrong, and also with your employer, practice principles or Health Authority or Board and take part in reviews and investigations when requested

Must then apologise to patient and offer appropriate remedy or support to try and put the matter right, and explain the short and long term effects of what has happened

Must raise concerns where appropriate if you believe patients best interests have been compromised