PHI midterm 1

What is patient autonomy

The right of a patient to make informed and voluntary choices about their own body and personal medical information

What kind of right is autonomy in medical ethics

Primarily a negative right meaning the right to refuse treatment or intervention

Why is informed consent essential to autonomy

Because patients need adequate information and freedom from coercion to govern their own choices

What limits patient autonomy

Loss of decision making capacity and conflicts with other ethical principles

Give an example of patient autonomy

A competent patient refusing chemotherapy

What is informed consent

Authorization of medical treatment after adequate disclosure of information and voluntary agreement

What are the two core requirements of informed consent

Disclosure of relevant information and voluntary consent without coercion

What must clinicians disclose for informed consent

The patient’s condition and the risks and benefits of treatment options

Give an example of informed consent

A surgeon explaining risks and alternatives before surgery

What is non-maleficence

The obligation for clinicians to avoid causing unnecessary harm to patients

What types of harm are relevant to non-maleficence

Physical psychological and social harm

Why is non-maleficence difficult to apply in practice

Because most medical treatments involve some risk or harm

How is non-maleficence applied in practice

By recognizing possible harms and weighing them against potential benefits

Give an example of non-maleficence

Protecting patient medical records to prevent social harm

What is beneficence

The obligation for clinicians to act in ways that promote the patient’s wellbeing

What kinds of goods does beneficence aim to promote

Reducing suffering restoring function and prolonging life

How does beneficence relate to non-maleficence

Both require weighing harms against goods

Give an example of beneficence

Providing chemotherapy despite side effects to prolong life

What is justice in medical ethics

The obligation to treat patients fairly and equitably especially when resources are scarce

What does treating like cases alike mean

Similar patients should receive similar treatment unless a morally relevant difference exists

What kinds of bias violate justice

Bias based on race gender sexuality age social status or life choices

How does justice apply to scarce resources

By allocating resources fairly across the patient population

Give an example of justice

Allocating ICU beds based on medical need rather than social worth

Why do the four principles include the phrase all things being equal

Because the principles can conflict with one another

What is the most common conflict in medical ethics

Conflict between patient autonomy and beneficence

What is a primary conflict between autonomy and beneficence

A patient refuses a treatment that would prolong their life

What is an example of a secondary conflict involving non-maleficence

Overriding autonomy may cause psychological or social harm

What is the desire thesis

The claim that we only truly desire what is good

What does Plato mean by we only want the good

All genuine desire is directed toward what is actually good for us

What is subjective desire

Desire based on feelings and beliefs about what one thinks is good

What is objective desire

Desire directed toward what is actually good regardless of feelings or mistaken beliefs

Why can subjective desire be mistaken

Because beliefs and feelings can be based on lack of knowledge

What is the good according to Plato

What genuinely contributes to wellbeing rather than mere pleasure

Name different kinds of goods discussed

Hedonic wellbeing ethical and instrumental goods

What is an end good

Something desired for its own sake

What is an instrumental good

Something chosen only because it leads to an end good

Give a medical example of instrument and end good

Medical treatment as an instrument and health as the end good

Why does Plato say we do not really want instruments

Because we only choose instruments for the sake of the end good

How does Plato explain mistaken desires

By saying people are mistaken about the good or confuse instruments with end goods

Give an example of mistaken belief about desire

A child wanting to watch a horror movie without understanding its effects

What does Plato mean by no conflicting goods

There is only one true good so genuine goods cannot conflict

Why do goods appear to conflict according to Plato

Because of lack of knowledge or confusion between instruments and end goods

How does Plato challenge the common sense view of autonomy

By arguing that true autonomy requires knowledge and rationality

Why might a clinician know what a patient truly wants better than the patient

Because the clinician may be more informed and rational

What question should clinicians ask according to Plato

What would the patient choose if fully informed and rational

How does Plato resolve autonomy versus beneficence conflicts

By claiming there is no real conflict when the patient understands the good