Introduction to Medical Ethics

Introduction to Medical Ethics

• Ethics is concerned with moral principles, values, and standards of conduct (WHO).
• Ethics is the careful and systematic reflection on moral decisions and behaviour.
• Morality is the value aspect of human choices and actions.
• The Greek word "ethike" means habit, action, and character.
• The Latin word "mos" means habit or custom.
• Ethics is a set of beliefs and practices that differentiates right from wrong.
• Medical ethics is a specific branch of ethics dealing with medical issues.
• Medical ethics is closely related to, but not identical to, bioethics (biomedical ethics).
• Bioethics is a broader field concerned with moral issues arising from advancements in biological sciences.
• Medical etiquette refers to the laws, customs, and codes of conduct between physicians and their professional colleagues.
• Recent developments in human rights significantly influence medical ethics.
• Physicians frequently address medical needs impacted by violations of human rights like forced migration or torture.
• Medical ethics often sets higher standards than the law and may require physicians to disobey laws that are unethical.

Importance of Medical Ethics

• Ethical principles such as respect for persons, informed consent, and confidentiality are vital for the doctor-patient relationship.
• Ethical principles application in specific cases can be challenging as physicians, patients, and healthcare providers may disagree on appropriate actions.
• The study of medical ethics equips professionals to recognize and handle difficult medical situations in a principled way.
• Ethical considerations affect physicians interaction with society, coworkers, and influence the conduct of medical research.

Principles of Medical Ethics

• Autonomy: Patients have freedom of thought, intention, and action in healthcare decisions. Informed decisions require understanding all procedure risks, benefits, and likelihood of success. This includes truthfulness (veracity) and faithfulness to commitments (fidelity).
• Beneficence: Healthcare providers should act in the patient's best interest with the intent to do good. Patient welfare is the priority.
• Confidentiality: Healthcare providers must maintain the confidentiality of patient information (personal, medical, and treatment). Information is only disclosed when ethically and legally required for patient benefit.
• Non-maleficence (Do no harm): Healthcare procedures should not harm the patient or others in society. The "double effect" recognizes that some interventions may have both positive and potentially harmful outcomes (e.g., morphine use in dying patients).
• Equity or Justice: Fair and equal distribution of scarce healthcare resources and treatments, and an equal distribution of burdens and benefits among societal groups.

This quiz explores the principles and values underlying medical ethics. It covers the distinction between medical ethics and bioethics, the role of morality in healthcare decisions, and the influence of human rights on ethical practices in medicine. Test your understanding of these important concepts!