1 ethical and legal foundations

ethics

greek word ethos which means '“a characteristic way of acting”

• may be defined as the system or code of conduct and morals advocated by a particular individual or group.
  - it is also the study of acceptable conduct and morals judgement.
  - it is not determined by a strict rules of rigid guidelines, and although it is relatively stable, it can change overtime.

biomedical ethics

• define as the branch of ethics dealing with dilemmas faced by medical professionals, patients, and their families and friends.

• described as guidelines for proper activities and attitudes towards patients and peers.

• suggests a standard of conduct that is expected of members of the profession

autonomy, beneficence, confidentiality, justice, nonmaleficence, role of fidelity, veracity

7 principles of biomedical ethics

confidentiality

DUTY TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF PATIENT

Example: After taking a chest X-ray, the RadTech sends the images

only to the radiologist and the patient’s doctor. They do not show the

images to the other staff members who are not involved in the

patient’s care.

justice

MORAL RIGHTNESS

Example: All patients receive the same quality of imaging care

regardless of age, gender, race, religion or ability to pay.

nonmalifecence

AVOIDANCE OF EVIL

Example: A RadTech uses the lowest radiation dose necessary to

obtain a high quality image to reduce the patient’s radiation risk.

role of fidelity

FAITHFULNESS AND LOYALTY

Example: A RadTech performs the ordered X-Ray correctly but does

not interpret or diagnose the images.

veracity

OBLIGATION TO TELL THE TRUTH AND NOT TO LIE

Example: A RadTech does not make false promises such as saying,

“This won’t hurt at all.” if some discomfort is possible.

purpose code of ethics

– present a framework for systematic examination of beliefs that may

lead the technologist to an understanding of personal and

professional morality and reponsibility.

critical thinking

“purposeful, self-regulatory judgment which results in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference.”

values

• a quality or standard that is desirable or worthy of

esteem in itself.

• are expressed in behaviors, language, and the

standards of conduct the imaging professional

endorses or tries to maintain.

• Values determine both personal and professional

ethics

personal, cultural, professional

3 basic groups of values

personal values

– are the beliefs and attitude held by an individual that provide a

foundation for behavior and the way the individual experiences life.

Example: VALUE OF TIMELINESS

cultural values

– are the beliefs, traditions, customs, and ways of life shared by a group

of people. These values influence how people think about health,

illness, and treatment, and healthcare decisions.
Example: LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION

professional values

– are the ethical principles and standards that healthcare

professionals are expected to follow while doing their job. These

values help them provide safe, respectful, and high-quality patient

care. Example: CONFIDENTIALITY

professionalism

is an awareness of the conduct, aims, and

qualities defi ning a given profession, familiarity with

professional codes of ethics, and understanding of ethical

schools of thought, patient-professional interaction

models, and patient rights.

consequentialism, deontology, virtue ethics

ethical school of thoughts

consequentalism

– other term for TELEOLOGY

– bases decisions on the consequences or outcomes of a

given act.

– It evaluates the good of an activity by assessing whether

immediate harm is balanced with future benefit.

EXAMPLE:

A patient undergoing radiation therapy for cancer may

experience some discomfort now, but the palliation or cure

of the cancer is the desired beneficial consequence of the

therapy.d

deontology

– bases decision making on individual motives and morals

rather than consequences and examines the significance of

action themselves.

– Deontologic problem solving uses personal rules of right

and wrong derived from individual actions, relationships of

all kinds, and society.

– It does not judge an action by its results or consequences.

EXAMPLE:

A radiologic technologist always checks the patient’s

identity before an X-Ray or Radiation treatment, even if the

department is very busy.

virtue ethics

– is a new ethical school of thought that focuses on the use of

practical wisdom for emotional and intellectual problem solving.

– It incorporates elements of teleology and deontology to provide a

more holistic approach to solving ethical dilemmas.

EXAMPLE:

A radiation therapist realizes that a patient is anxious before

receiving treatment.

The therapists:

• Listens to the patient’s concerns.

• Reassures the patient.

• Treats the patient with dignity and respect.

• Provides the best care even when no one watching.S