Week 1 all readings

25 Q&A flashcards covering key concepts from Health Care Ethics readings (Ch. 1-3) and Reading 2 on medicine, perception, biases, and proposed solutions.

What is health care ethics?

Applied ethics concerned with moral decision-making in medicine and policies guiding medical practice.

How is 'health' defined beyond the absence of disease?

A broad concept including physical, mental, and social well-being.

Who influences health care besides clinicians?

Social, cultural, economic, educational, and legislative factors.

What are the two broad normative debates about health and disease?

Natural/biological view vs socially constructed norms of normalcy in defining health and disease.

Name some ancient roots of health care ethics codes.

Hippocratic Oath; Indian, Hebrew, Persian, and Chinese traditions.

Who developed early formal professional medical codes?

Percival (1803); American Medical Association (1847); later international codes.

List major methods of moral decision-making discussed in Health Care Ethics readings.

Virtue Ethics; Utilitarian theories; Deontological theories; Principlism; Casuistry; Feminist Ethics; Ethics of Care.

What does Virtue Ethics focus on in health care?

The character of the agent and virtues such as courage, honesty, compassion, and temperance.

What does Utilitarian theory emphasize in ethical decision-making?

Consequences; maximize happiness/minimize unhappiness for all affected; equal weight; consider long-term and habitual effects.

What is the core idea of Deontological theories?

Duty-based ethics; act on maxims that can be universalized; treat persons as ends in themselves.

What are the four principles of Principlism?

Autonomy; beneficence; nonmaleficence; justice; part of a common morality; require balancing when conflicting.

What is Casuistry in moral reasoning?

Case-based reasoning using paradigmatic past cases to guide current decisions; less reliance on grand theories.

What does Feminist Ethics critique in traditional ethics?

Abstract notions like autonomy; emphasizes power, gender, social oppression and how gender influences ethics.

What does Ethics of Care focus on?

Caring relationships, empathy, and compassion; relational, contextual, and emotionally responsive ethics.

What does the Autonomy principle entail?

Moral right to self-determination; informed consent; information provided in understandable form; may be restricted by paternalism.

What does Beneficence require in health care?

Duty to do good and promote patient welfare; may conflict with autonomy (e.g., patient refuses treatment).

What does Nonmaleficence mean in medical ethics?

Do no harm; avoid intentional harm and harm through negligence or ignorance; weigh risks vs benefits.

What does Justice require in health care?

Fairness and impartiality; treat similar cases similarly; justify differences; ensure equitable access.

What is the Reading 2 core claim about appearances versus expertise?

Acting like a doctor does not guarantee medical knowledge; outsiders can reveal biases and true competence.

What factors influence health outcomes after a patient visits a doctor?

Perception, trust, and communication between doctor and patient.

How much more time do higher SES patients typically receive with doctors?

About 20% more time, with more positive talk and better explanations.

What racial disparities are highlighted in Reading 2 notes regarding doctors and care?

Only about 4% of doctors are Black vs 13% of the population; Black patients less likely to receive referrals for cardiac surgery and fewer procedures performed in the same hospital with the same insurance.

What does ageism look like in medical research and practice?

Biology-based assessment often replaced by chronological age; ~50% of breast cancer patients are >65, but only ~8% invited to drug trials.

What obesity-related biases are noted among doctors?

About 50% of doctors label obese patients as lazy, awkward, or non-compliant; obesity increases cancer risk and is associated with lower screening rates.

What are the misdiagnosis statistics and their consequences in the U.S.?

Misdiagnoses occur in 10–20% of consultations; ~160,000 misdiagnosis deaths per year; used to illustrate the impact similar to multiple Sept. 11 events monthly.