Management of Medical Info and ELDs Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is confidentiality? Why is it important?
The principle obligating HCPs to keep all info between the patient and HCPs private
Respect patient’s rights, sense of individuality, and privacy; ensures trust in the healthcare system
What is the dilemma of confidentiality? (2 horns)
- Horn 1 of dilemma: Following the principle of confidentiality results in the above benefits (respects patient rights, sense of individivuality, pricacy, trust in system)
- Horn 2 of dilemma: Following the principle of confidentiality may harm others
Why should we limit confidentiality? (3)
- Medical care requires collective inputs
- Conflict between interest in maintaining confidentiality and interest in providing the best care and treatment (patient interest)
- Conflict between interest in maintaining confidentiality and interest in the well being of others (third party interests)
Reasons to tell the truth? (4)
- Respects patient’s right
- Respects patient’s autonomy
- Enables patients to make informed choices
- Shapes and promotes trust in the healthcare system
Reasons not to tell the (whole) truth? (2)
- The problem of information overload
- The problem of chewing on and interpreting medical language
What should you consider to tell or not tell? (2)
- Contextual truth-telling
- Patients right/autonomy to the truth is measured against the goal of medicine/healthcare
What are three reasons the truth must be told? (Thomasma)
Right, utility, kindness
What is placebo? Should it be used?
Placebo may involve partial or complete deception, it’s a suggestive treatment (relies on expectation and belief), treatment is inert
Yes: If it works, why not?
No: Besides concerns about autonomy (IC), is there a reason why not?
Right to die?
Ambiguous, cannot be defended on the ground of natural rights, not justified by autonomy
What is euthanasia?
The practice of ending a life prematurely in order to end pain and suffering
What is MAID?
Medical Assistance in Dying -a process that allows someone who is found eligible to be able to receive assistance from a medical practitioner in ending their life
Canada’s euthanasia program.
What are the two forms of MAID?
- Method 1: Clinician administered; Voluntary Active Euthanasia (VAE)
- Method 2: Self-administered; Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS)
What do you need to qualify for MAID? (4)
- Be 18 years of age or older and have decision-making capacity
- Make a voluntary request that is not the result of external pressure
- Give informed consent to receive MAID (received all information needed to make this decision)
- Have a serious and incurable illness, disease, or disability
What are some justifications/reasons for euthanasia? (4)
- Autonomy: self-command
- Beneficence: living causes more harm
- Compassion: for the patient’s condition
- Rights: “right to die”
What are the 4 types of euthanasia?
(1) Physician Assisted Suicide
(2) Involuntary Euthanasia
(3) Passive Euthanasia (Voluntary and Non-voluntary)
(4) Active Euthanasia (Voluntary and Non-voluntary)
Physician assisted suicide (PAS)
A physician intentionally helps someone to die; only legal in a few countries (NETH, BELG, SWI, CAN)
Involuntary euthanasia
Performing euthanasia against the individual’s wishes or performing mercy killing on someone who could provide IC, but does not, either because (a) they do not want to die, or (b) they were not asked about dying
Legally, murder.
Passive euthanasia
- Voluntary: patient has previously expressed wish about treatment and end of life (legal in many places)
- Non-voluntary: no knowledge and IC (could be PAS or murder)
Active euthanasia
Voluntary: someone requests an end to their life
Non-voluntary: patient’s life is ended without IC
Legal is some places (NETH, SWI, CAN)
What are arguments for euthanasia at the policy level? (Brock) (4)
- Respects self-determination of patients
- Benefits much larger group (more people who want it)
- Relieves patients from prolong and severe pain and suffering
- Once death has been accepted and if this is what the patient wants, it is often more humane to end life quickly and peacefully
What are arguments against euthanasia at the policy level? (Brock) (6)
- Incompatible with the fundamental moral and professional commitment of physicians as healers
- Weaken society’s commitment to provide optimal care for dying patients
- Euthanasia progress made in securing the rights of patients to decide about life-sustaining treatments
- Option can make people worse off
- Weaken legal prohibition of homicide
- Could lead to active euthanasia being performed
Is there a distinction between PAS and VAE according to Brock?
No significant intrinsic moral difference
Is there a distinction between AE and PE according to Rachels?
No moral significance
Is there a moral difference between AE and PE? (2)
It depends on:
- Intention: beneficence
- Consequence/end: the patient’s dies
AE is more humane than PE (out of agony more quickly)
