Intro Med Ethics 4 TH Year
Intro Med Ethics 4 TH Year
Intro Med Ethics 4 TH Year
Programme aims
Definition of Medical Ethics Scope of Ethics in Medical Practice Theories and principles Duties of a Doctor
Objectives
Within small groups and by using case based material you will be able to: 1)Recognise ethical issues 2)Recognise ethical conflicts 3)Practice verbal reasoning skills 4)Be aware of own and others moral values
Patients are entitled to good standards of practice and care from their doctors.Essential elements of this are professional competence, good relationships with patients and colleagues and observance of professional ethical obligations. From Good Medical Practice, GMC.
Historical background
Hippocratic oath Geneva(1947) Sydney(1968) Tokyo(1975) Lisbon(1981)
2.
Multidisciplinary nature
Four Misconceptions
1.
2.
3. 4.
Clear distinction :clinical and ethical analysis Clear distinction: profess. and everyday ethics Enshrined in lead Medical ethics=matter of opinion
Doctor X is considering whether or not to break a confidence. Patient has presented with an STD which he wishes to have treated confidentially.His wife is also your patient.What do you do?
DEONTOLOGICAL THEORIES
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CONSEQUENTIALIST THEORIES Consequence alone determines right and wrong. - greatest happiness of the greatest number.
Principles
1. 2. 3.
4.
5. 6. 7.
3 constraints on Beneficence
1.
2.
Need to ensure health is not bought at too high a price Need to consider rights of others
3.
Autonomy
1. 2. 3.
Capacity to think, decide, take action Mental incompetence= no autonomy Autonomy v-Paternalism When patient not autonomous no clash. When patient autonomousquestionable procedure
Truth Telling In much wisdom is much grief:and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrows (Ecclesiastics 1,18)
You offend against the principle of autonomy(Dr.C Mooreland) At times there are good reasons for overriding the truth telling principle
2.
3.
Hippocratic obligations Not in a position to know the truth Patients do not want the truth if the news is bad
Confidentiality
Act against this principle and you destroy patients trust Clash when keeping confidentiality would harm others eg child abuse Should patients have access to their notes?
Against
Layman unable to cope with data Opinions not facts cause anxiety Third party information Defensive medicine
For
Access to Records
Data Protection Act (1998) What records are covered? Does it matter when the record was made? Who can apply? Are their exemptions? Must copies be given if requested? Access to records of deceased patients?
Pt gives written and valid consent To other participating professionals Where undesirable to seek patients consent info can be given to a close relative Statutory requirements Ordered by Court Public interest Approved Research
Preservation of Life
At what stage does human life begin?coil, pill Can we assess another persons quality of life?-Jehovah's Witness
Euthanasia
Active: an active intervention to end life Passive:deliberately withholding treatment that might help a patient live longer Voluntary :euthanasia is performed following a request from a patient Doctor assisted suicide: a doctor prescribes a lethal drug which is self administered by the patient Non-voluntary :ending the life of a patient who is not capable of giving permission Involuntary:ending life against a patients
Acts and Omissions Doctrine-held by those who believe that passive euthanasia is not killing(killing is an act,and an omission is not an act) Doctrine of Double effect-makes a distinction between what I intend and what I merely foresee
Living Wills
Patient unconscious\severely mentally disabled , and two docs agree it unlikely he will be able to communicate treatment decision Refuse treatment if prolongs life with no further benefit to patient
Justice
1. 2.
3.
4.
5. 6. 7.
How to allocate scarce healthcare resources? Medical need Medical Benefits Social worth-discriminates against underprivileged Merits/contribution to society-very contentious Desert Market Forces A lottery
4.
Jane aged 15 yrs requests the OCP Her mum phones you the next day Several weeks later she tells you her boyfriend slapped her across the face Her boyfriend is her history teacher
The doctor should assess whether the patient understands his\her advice The doctor should encourage parental involvment The doctor should take into account whether the patient is liekly to have sexual intercourse without contraceptive treatment The doctor should assess whether the patients physical\mental healthare likely to suffer if she does not receive advice\treatment The doctor must consider whether the patients best interestsrequire him\her to
A 25 yr old lady comes to the treatment room requesting syringes.She is a lesbian and wishes to inseminate herself. 1) What else would you like to know 2)What are the ethical issues 3)What would you do
Duties of a Doctor Please apply ethical principles to the above list as described in Good Medical Practice
2.
3.
How much information should be given to patients preoperatively? When/how should we relay information to a postoperative patient? What lessons can be learned from this tape?