Bioethics - Exam 2

autonomy

person’s rational capacity for self-governance of self-domination

paternalism

the overiding of a person’s actions or decision making for his or her own good

weak paternalism

paternalism directed at persons who cannot act autonomously or whose autonomy is greatly diminshed; generally acceptable

strong paternalism

the overiding of a person’s action or choices although he or she is substaintially autonomous; generally not acceptable

refusing treatment

patient has this right; even life saving measures

adavaced directives

legal document upheld by courts as an exercise in autonomy; DNR

physician autonomy

the freedom of docotrs to determin the conditions they workin and the care they give to patients

futile treatment

alleged pointlessness or ineffectiveness of administering particular treatment

ultilitarianism

allows for possibility of paternalism 

katian ethics

rejects paternalism; insists on rights of an autonomous person

natural law theory

allows more paternalism than katian ethics

misleading or lying

patient benefits from less anxiety or fear, potentially improve health outcomes

disclosure

patient adhere to therapies better, might live reamaining days differently, breeds mistrust in all medical professional

confidentiality

patients impart personal information to the medical provider and expect it to be held in confidence unless there is consent to disclose or duty to disclose

consequentialist

if doctors don’t maintian confidentiality there would be a lack of trust in docotrs and patient would not disclose vital information

nonconsequantialist

autonomous individuals have the right to exercise their capcity for self-determination; right to privacy

right to privacy

patients should be able to control access to information about themselves and limit intrusion into their personal lives

privacy act of 1974

gave citizens some control over the information that the federal government collected about them

health insurance portability and acountability act of 1996

specifically designed to help protect patient’s healthcare records

HIPPA

protect prvacy of healthcare information, improve portability of health insurance, combat fraud, waste, and abuse in healthcare, promote expanded use of medical savings accounts

kantian ethics

physicians have an absolute duty to uphold both confidentiality and to tell the truth

act-utilitarianism

prima facia; judged case-by-case

rule-utilitarianism

a rule, if followed consistently, would lead to best outcomes for everyone involved

virtue ethics

tell the truth and maintain confidence; compassion would prevent being too blunt and harsh with the truth