Ethics: Autonomy & Beneficence

Flashcards providing vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture on Ethics, Autonomy, and Beneficence.

Ethics

A set of moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity, involving concepts like trust, morals, and laws.

The Four Pillars of Ethics

The foundational principles of healthcare ethics: Autonomy, Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, and Justice.

Autonomy

Respect for each person’s uniqueness, having and making choices, self-rule, and removing bias to meet equity. It emphasizes individual rights and avoids coercion.

Beneficence

The obligation to care for those to whom one is not related, with the intent of every decision being to do what is best for the patient; often called the 'Soul of Morality' through compassion and kindness.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical principle of doing no harm.

Justice

The ethical principle of fairness and equity in the distribution of resources and treatment.

Informed Consent

A legal and ethical duty that ensures a patient's voluntary agreement to a medical procedure or treatment after understanding all relevant information, risks, and alternatives.

Confidentiality

The legal and ethical duty to protect sensitive patient information, legally mandated by regulations like HIPAA.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a U.S. law providing data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information.

Veracity

The ethical principle of truth-telling, which is influenced through the lens of an individual's qualifications and responsibilities.

Fidelity

The ethical principle of being 'faithful' or loyal, involving keeping one's word and maintaining trust with patients, employers, and disciplines.

Competence (Medical)

The ability of a patient to make a medical decision, often assessed as a 'snapshot in time' to determine if they can understand and weigh information for informed consent.

Implied Consent

Consent that is inferred from a patient's actions or the circumstances, such as in emergency situations under the Good Samaritan Law.

Self-Determination

The right of an individual to make their own choices, a foundational aspect of autonomy.

Paternalism (Medical)

Actions taken by a healthcare provider that restrict a patient's autonomy for their perceived benefit or good.