Med Ethics Midterm Exam

Act Utilitarianism Definition

Argues that in all situations the utility of an action is based on an act that leads to the greatest good for the greatest number

Act Utilitarianism Example

Saving multiple lives by sacrificing one

Act Utilitarianism Critique

Moral Rights

Legal Rights

Positive Rights

Impose obligations on people to provide other people with goods or services

Negative Rights

Pertain to the obligations on the part of other people to refrain from interfering with our freedom of action

Kantian Deontologism

An act can be described as good and what ought to be done because it expresses certain characteristics; follow only those rules which you would will to be universal laws for everyone, including yourself

Ambiguity

Situations in which the clarity of the facts does not dictate the decision

The Tragic in Human Life

Consequences of human limitations in knowledge and resources leading to

1) The chance of being wrong despite the best knowledge and intentions

2) The need to make morally wrenching decisions in the face of incomplete information or with inadequate resources

Autonomy

You shall not treat a patient without the informed consent of the patient or his or her lawful surrogate, except in narrowly defined emergencies

Informed Consent

• Foundational

• Without this, principles of autonomy and dignity would be diminished

• Two required conditions:

  • Competency

  • Informed

• A process in which patients are given important information, including possible risks and benefits, about a medical procedure or treatment, genetic testing, or a clinical trial

Competence

Capacity; ability to perform a certain task

Surrogate

People who are authorized by law or custom to make decisions when the patient is incompetent or doubtfully competent

Paternalism

Acting without consent or even overriding a person’s wishes, wants, or actions in order to benefit the patient or at least to prevent harm to the patient

Therapeutic Privilege

Privilege of withholding information from the patient when the physician believes that the disclosure will have an adverse effect on the patient’s condition or health

Emergency

Right to Refuse Treatment

Medical Indications Principle

Proportionality

Double Effect

3 Principles of Surrogate Decision Making

Wedge Principle

Logical Wedge Principle

Empirical Wedge Principle

Conflict of Interest

Ordinary Patient’s Obligation of Health Care

Extraordinary Patient’s Obligation of Health Care

Refusal of Care

Minimum Adequate Humane Health Care

Health and Disease

The Goals of Health Care

Ethical Distribution

Mandatory Reporting

Context Issues Related to Confidentiality and Health Care

Tarasoff Case With Respect to Confidentiality

Issues Related to Appeals to Conscience

Due Process