Comprehensive Overview of Ethics in Medical Practice and Research

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to ethics in medical practice and research, including various branches of ethics, moral principles, and the ethical implications in healthcare decisions.

Descriptive Ethics

The study of people's moral beliefs, behaviors, and practices without making judgments about correctness.

Normative Ethics

Branch of ethics that investigates moral standards that should guide behavior and asks questions like 'What ought I to do?'

Metaethics

The study of the nature, meaning, and justification of moral concepts and statements.

Applied Ethics

The use of moral principles to analyze specific, real-world issues such as abortion or healthcare justice.

Moral Norms

Standards that help determine right and wrong based on moral reasoning.

Nonmoral Norms

Standards that do not involve moral judgments, pertaining to etiquette or law.

Normative Dominance

Moral norms take priority over other norms like legal or social rules.

Universality

Moral principles apply to all rational beings in similar situations.

Impartiality

Moral judgments should be made without favoritism, giving equal consideration to everyone.

Reasonableness

Moral judgments must be supported by logical reasoning and evidence.

Obligatory Actions

Morally required actions; failing to perform them is wrong.

Permissible Actions

Morally acceptable actions that are not required.

Supererogatory Actions

Actions that are good and praiseworthy but not required.

Autonomy

The right of individuals to make their own decisions about their lives.

Paternalism

Overriding a person's decisions for their own good, similar to a parent-child relationship.

Nonmaleficence

The principle of 'do no harm,' avoiding unnecessary injury to others.

Beneficence

The duty to promote the welfare of others and do good.

Utility

The principle that actions should maximize overall good while minimizing harm.

Justice

Fairness in the distribution of benefits and burdens.

Moral Objectivism

The view that objective moral principles apply universally regardless of individual beliefs.

Moral Absolutism

The belief that moral principles apply universally without exceptions.

Subjective Relativism

The idea that moral truth depends on individual beliefs or feelings.

Cultural Relativism

The belief that moral rightness and wrongness depend on cultural norms.

Divine Command Theory

The belief that moral rightness is determined by God's commands.

Deductive Argument

An argument intended to provide logically conclusive support for its conclusion.

Inductive Argument

An argument intended to offer probable support for its conclusion.

Validity

In deductive arguments, it is impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false.

Soundness

A deductive argument that is valid and has all true premises.

Strength

In inductive arguments, when true premises make the conclusion very likely true.

Cogency

An inductive argument that is strong and has all true premises.

Straw Man Fallacy

Misrepresenting an opponent’s view to attack it easily.

Appeal to the person

Attacking the person rather than their argument

Appeal to ignorance

Claiming something is true because it hasn’t been proven false

Patient Autonomy

The right of patients to make informed decisions about their medical treatment.

Begging the question

Trying to prove a conclusion by using the very same conclusion as support

Slippery slope

Arguing that one action will lead to a series of disastrous results without proof.

Denying Contrary Evidence

Ignoring facts that go against your beliefs

Looking for Confirming Evidence (Confirmation Bias)

Focusing only on evidence that supports your views.

Motivated Reasoning

Using reasoning to defend what you want to believe rather than seeking truth.

Preferring Available Evidence (Availability Bias)

Relying on easily remembered information instead of full evidence.

The Dunning–Kruger Effect

When people with little knowledge overestimate their understanding or ability.

Advance Directive

A legal document stating a person's medical treatment preferences in advance.

DNR Order

A medical order stating that no resuscitation should be attempted if a patient stops breathing.

Informed Consent

The process by which a patient agrees to medical treatment after understanding relevant information.

Shared Decision-Making

Collaboration between physician and patient in making medical decisions.

Autonomous Authorization

Informed consent is valid only if the patient intentionally authorizes an intervention.

Nuremberg Code

A set of ethical guidelines for human research, emphasizing voluntary consent.

Beneficence vs. Nonmaleficence

Beneficence is the duty to do good, while nonmaleficence is the duty to avoid harm.

Clinical Trials

Systematic studies to test new drugs or treatments for safety and efficacy.

Exploitation in Research

Using vulnerable populations as test subjects without fair benefits.

Utilitarianism

 A consequentialist theory that says the right action is the one that produces the greatest overall happiness (or least harm) for everyone affected.

Kantian Ethics

actions are morally right if they are done from duty and guided by reason, regardless of consequences.

Principlism