Chapter 1

Question 1

morality

Answer 1

character; widely shared beliefs about moral life/norms of right and wrong conduct that prevail in our culture

is normative/prescriptive (“what should I do?”)

Question 2

ethics

Answer 2

perspective from which to evaluate/live the moral life

systematic/justificatory/interpretive/analytical (“why should I do X?”)

Question 3

4 basic ethical obligations

Answer 3

1. respecting pt’s privacy and maintaining confidentiality
2. communicating honestly about all aspects of pt’s dx/tx/prognosis
3. determining whether pt is capable of sharing in decision-making
4. conducting ethically valid process of informed consent throughout

Question 4

why is it important not to divorce ethical reasoning from clinical reasoning?

Answer 4

fallacy of expertise: b/c clinicians think clinical knowledge translates over to ethical knowledge

clinicians can also become overly concerned with what is legal, not what is ethical

Question 5

8 ethically relevant considerations and virtues for caring for patients

Answer 5

1. balance b/w benefits and harms
2. disclosure/informed consent/shared decision-making
3. norms of family life
4. responsibilities of MDs/RNs in relationships with pts
5. professional integrity
6. societal norms of cost-effectiveness and allocation
7. cultural/religious variations
8. considerations of power