40 Questions
What is the primary concern of ethics as a branch of philosophy?
Criteria for determining good and right
What is the main difference between ethics and morality?
Ethics is general, morality is specific to contexts
Is what is ethical necessarily legal or religious?
No, what is ethical is not necessarily legal or religious
What is the focus of the branches of ethics?
Criteria for determining right and wrong
What is the relationship between ethics and morality?
They are interchangeable terms
What is the concern of the question 'WHAT IS RIGHT?'?
Criteria for determining right and wrong
What is the reflection on incest or sexual relations in certain contexts?
It may be legal in certain contexts, but condemnable in others
Who is the lecturer/examiner mentioned in the text?
Dr. Mrs. Nancy Myles B. Gyamfi
What is the primary concern of Agya's doctors regarding CPR?
The need for a blood transfusion
What principle is favored by allowing Agya's family to override his decision?
Beneficence
What is the purpose of obtaining informed consent from patients?
To ensure patient autonomy
What is the role of the medical ethics committee in this scenario?
To deliberate and make a decision on the ethical dilemma
What is the primary ethical issue in medicine being discussed?
Informed consent
Why is informed consent essential in medical research?
To respect patient autonomy
What is the doctor's primary concern in resolving this ethical dilemma?
Balancing autonomy with beneficence
What is the proposed response to the ethical dilemma?
The Ajei & Myles relational personhood approach
What is the primary reason for requiring informed consent?
To respect the patient's right to autonomous decision-making
What is the principle that requires the care-giver to avoid causing harm to the patient?
Non-maleficence
What is the fundamental ethical dilemma in the simultaneous demand for informed consent and beneficence and non-maleficence?
Balancing the patient's autonomy with the care-giver's expertise
What is the principle that requires the care-giver to act in the best interest of the patient?
Beneficence
What is the assumed status of the patient in the context of informed consent?
Incompetent and dependent on the care-giver
What is the duty of the care-giver with respect to the patient's autonomy?
To respect the patient's right to autonomous decision-making
What is the underlying value that underscores the requirement of informed consent?
Respect for human dignity
What is the implied contradiction in the concept of informed consent?
Between understanding and dependence on the care-giver
What is the primary goal of informed consent in a clinical setting?
To facilitate communication between the caregiver and care-seeker
What is required of the caregiver in the process of informed consent?
To make every effort to ascertain the care-seeker's understanding
What is the main concern of Metaethics in the field of ethics?
Examining the meaning of ethical terms and moral judgments
What is a critical aspect of informed consent in a research or clinical trial setting?
All of the above
What is the primary ethical doctrine underlying informed consent?
Autonomy
Which of the following is an example of an illegal but ethical action?
Hiding Jews in Germany during WWII
What is the primary focus of Applied Ethics?
Applying ethical theories to real-life issues
What is the purpose of disclosure in the informed consent process?
To inform the patient about the potential risks and benefits
Which of the following is an example of a religious practice that is considered unethical?
Practicing human sacrifice as a religious ritual
What is the significance of the 'pattern' of informed consent?
It outlines the essential steps in the informed consent process
What is the consequence of not adequately obtaining informed consent?
All of the above
What is the main concern of Normative Ethics in the field of ethics?
Evaluating moral standards and prescribing actions
What is the ultimate goal of the informed consent process?
To facilitate the patient's autonomy in decision-making
What is the relationship between ethics and religion, according to the text?
What is ethical is not necessarily religious, and vice versa
What is the primary concern of the doctor in the ETHICS DISCUSSION QUESTION 1?
Saving Agya Bentum's life
What is the significance of the four reflections in the text?
They illustrate the difference between ethical and legal actions
Study Notes
Understanding Ethics as a Branch of Philosophy
- Ethics is a branch of philosophy that engages questions of right and wrong, good and bad
- Ethics is concerned with the CRITERIA for determining ‘good’ and ‘right’
- Not concerned with particular instances of right actions or intentions
Ethics and Morality
- Ethics and morality have been used interchangeably
- Ethics is mainly used to connote principles of right and wrong not necessarily restricted to a specific context
- Morality is often associated with prescriptions of right and wrong behavior for specific contexts such as religious and cultural
Is What is Ethical Necessarily Legal or Religious?
- What is ethical is not necessarily legal, and vice versa
- Examples:
- Incest or sexual relations may be legal in certain contexts yet condemnable in others
- Donating to charity may be legal and ethical
- Hiding Jews in Germany during WWII may be illegal but ethical
- First-degree murder may be unethical and illegal
Branches of Ethics
- Metaethics: concerned with the foundations of ethics and the definition of ethical terms
- Examines the meaning of ethical terms such as good, bad, virtue, moral, immoral
- Analyzes moral statements and judgments
- Normative Ethics: studies ethical actions and evaluates moral standards or theories that regulate these actions
- Applied Ethics: the practical aspect of ethics, applies ethical theories to address real-life issues such as abortion, euthanasia, war, punishment, etc.
Informed Consent, Autonomy, and Ethics
- Informed consent is a process of communication that enables a patient with extant capacity to reason to make informed and voluntary decisions
- Requirements of informed consent:
- Disclosure of information
- Comprehension of information
- Analytical competence
- Voluntary consent (or refusal)
- Patient autonomy: the right to autonomous decision-making, including the right to refuse treatment or therapy on religious, cultural, or other grounds
- The duty of the care-giver: beneficence and non-maleficence
- Beneficence: the principle of doing good and promoting the patient’s welfare
- Non-maleficence: the principle of avoiding harm to the patient
The Ethical Dilemma
- The simultaneous demand for ‘understood’ or ‘informed consent’ and the requirement for ‘beneficence and nonmaleficence’ creates an ethical dilemma
- The patient is expected to be competent and make informed decisions, yet also dependent on the care-giver for knowledge and guidance
Explore the basics of ethics as a branch of philosophy, including autonomy, informed consent, and moral principles. This quiz covers the fundamental concepts of ethics and their applications.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
