The Basics: Medical Law, Ethics, and Bioethics Latest Update Graded A

The Basics: Medical Law, Ethics, and Bioethics Latest Update Graded A applied ethics the practical application of moral standards to the conduct of individuals involved in organizations litigious prone to engage in lawsuits laws rules of behavior established by a political authority and backed by state power medical law addresses legal rights and obligations that affect patients and protect individual rights, including rights of health care employees defensive medicine Ordering more tests and procedures than are necessary in order to protect oneself from a lawsuit. medical practice acts State laws written for the express purpose of governing the practice of medicine ethics branch of philosophy related to morals, moral principles, and judgement. Concerned with "what we should or ought to do. morality the quality of being virtuous or practicing the right conduct amoral lacking ethical principles medical ethics moral conduct based on principles regulating the behavior of healthcare professionals. Applies to patients, relatives, and the community. teleological theory Consequentialism Worth of an action judged by the consequences The end justifies the means Supports paternalistic behavior if no harm is done. Ex: utilitarianism deontological theory Some actions are right or wrong and we have a duty or obligation to peform them or refrain from peforming them. Ex: duty based ethics utilitarianism idea that the goal of society should be to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people Rights-based ethics belief that individual rights provide the vital protection of life, liberty, expression, and property duty-based ethics An ethical philosophy rooted in the idea that every person has certain duties to others, including both humans and the planet. Those duties may be derived from religious principles or from other philosophical reasoning. Justice-based ethics These ethics are based on an important moral restraint called "the veil of ignorance". This saying means we would not see the recipients of our choices, would allow the decision-makers(medical experts) to be impartial in their decisions. Ex: Children with genetic diseases which would require large finanacial resources deserve good care simply as a matter of justice. Virtue-based ethics These ethics are also known as seeking the "good life". These ethics are emphsized on persons and not neccessarily on the decisions or principles that are involved. Three-Step Ethics Model I. Is it legal? II. Is it balanced? III.How does it make me feel? Dr. Bernard Lo's Clinical Model I. Gather information. II. Clarify the ethical issues. III. Resolve the dilemma. Bioethics The study of ethics related to issues that arise in health care. 4 bioethical principles Autonomy Beneficence Nonmaleficence Justice Principle of Autonomy right to make decisions about one's own life principle of beneficence an ethical principle from the Belmont Report stating that researchers must take precautions to protect participants from harm and to promote their well-being Principle of Nonmaleficence "First, do no harm." A warning to all members of the healthcare profession to not only do good for the patient, but also to do no harm in the process. principle of justice warns us that equals must be treated equally medical ettiquette standards of professional behavior