Ethics Flashcards
Where are ethics becoming increasingly important?
Assisted deaths - you help them commit suicide
Euthanasia - painless killing of a patient from a painful and incurable disease.
Transplants
Assisted conception
As medical advances happen so fast laws often don’t keep up.
What is ethics?
The attempt to arrive at an understanding of the nature of human values, of how we ought to live, and of what constitutes right conduct.
Ethical levels?
Meta-ethics = exploring fundamental questions “can things be right or wrong”
Ethical theory = philosophical attempts to create ethical theories “the 4 pillars of ethics, virtue etc”
Applied ethics = applying your ethical knowledge to a problem
What is the law and ethics relationship ?
They are not the same, the law however does have an ethical underpinning, may be out dated.
E.g in medicine — negligence, confidentiality, mental capacity
As well as law religion, culture and personal beliefs will inform people’s decisions and may be a barrier to making ethical decisions.
What is ethics?
A system of moral principles and a branch of philosophy which defines what is good for individuals and society.
What is meta ethics?
Meta ethics = the study of moral thought and moral language.
What is normative ethics?
Involves arriving at moral standards that regulate right and wrong conduct. E.g. we treat others how we want to be treated ourselves.
Consequentialism?
Defines that an act is evaluated by its consequences.
E.g. lying to same someone’s life
What is utilitarianism?
It is a form of consequentialism.
A philosophy that suggest an action is morally right if the majority of people benefit.
E.g. dropping a bomb
What is the double effect?
Doing harm to bring about a good result.
E.g. painkillers shorten someone’s life, but make it a better quality.
Deontology?
Theory that suggest actions are good or bad according to a clear set of rules.
E.g. killing is wrong
Lying is bad
Virtue ethics?
It is the quest to live life or a moral character.
These virtues are acquired through practice, e,g being brave, honest, generous help to build character.
However, not everyone’s virtues are the same.
What are the 4 principles of ethics?
- Autonomy - self rule, but need to be informed and have capacity
- Beneficence - provide benefits to others, do good
- Non - maleficience - do no harm
- Justice - triage, equitable treatment
Note the GMC is not your friend…
They are on the side of the patient
What is the duty of candour?
Every healthcare professional must be open and honest with patients when something that goes wrong with their treatment or care causes, or has the potential to cause, harm or distress.
