Medical Ethics- Veatch – ALL – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Unlock answers
question
Types of Medical Ethical Codes (2)
answer
1- *Hippocratic* - Those following the oath wording -those including the hippocratic principle 2-*Non-hippocratic* -those of the health professions -those from outside the health profesisons
question
Hippocratic Code: 3 Divisions of Medicine
answer
1- Dietetics 2- Pharmacology 3- Surgery
question
Hippocratic Oath- Initiation Section
answer
1- Swearing by the Gods 2- Pledge of loyalty to Teacher 3- Concern about secret knowledge - idea that knowledge is dangerous (note-difference with modern medicine)
question
Hippocratic Code 3 Prohibitions:
answer
1- Prohibition on Surgery ( dont defile yourself with touching blood) 2- Prohibition on giving Deadly drugs (expansion--> euthanasia) 3- Prohibition on abortion
question
Core principle of the hippocratic oath
answer
" i will apply dietetic regimen for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment" *protect patients from harm*
question
6 Examples of Code of Ethics following Hippocratic wording
answer
1- Hippocratic Oath Insofar as Christian May Swear it 2- Florence Nightingale Pledge 3- Solemn Oath of a Physician of Russia 4- *Declaration of Geneva* --following nazis 5- SUNY Upstate at syracuse med 6- *SGU* Same wording: *benefit and protect patients from harm*
question
3 Examples Code of Ethics follow hippocratic moral principle *but abandon hippocratic wording* Core Idea
answer
1-Percival's Code 2- American Medical Association (1847) 3- British Medical Association Core idea= *job is to benefit the patient*
question
5 Examples of Non-Hippocratic Codes: from those in Health Profesions
answer
1- American Medical Association (1980, 2001_ 2- Chilean Medial Association 3- American Nurses Association code for nurses 4- Federal council of medicine- brazil 5- New Zealand medical association *After 1970s- shift to Non-Hippocratic Codes* - patient's rights! (exception nuremberg codes)
question
6 Examples of Non-Hippocratic Codes: from those in *Oustide Health Professions -Secular* Hint- Bill of Rights
answer
*1- Nuremberg Code (1946)* 2- Oath of sovie physicians 3- The American Hosptial Association Patients Bill of Rights 4- Council of Europe Convention of Human Rights and Biomedicine 5- US consumer bill of rights 6- Liberal Political Philosophy *After 1970s- shift to Non-Hippocratic Codes* - patient's rights! (exception nuremberg codes)
question
Nuremberg Code (1946)
answer
Using Human rights as subjects--> creates problem *Informed consent of subject is essential* Non-Hippocratic *After 1970s- shift to Non-Hippocratic Codes* - patient's rights! (exception nuremberg codes)
question
6 Examples of Non-Hippocratic Codes: from Religious Groups outside health professions Hint- Ethnic names- foreign (outside health )
answer
1- Caraka Samhita (hindu) 2- Oath Asaph (jewish) 3- Seventeen rules of enjuin (japan) 4-Ten Maxims for physicians and Ten Maxims (china) 5- Islamic code of medical ethics 6- Ethical and religious directives for catholics (USA)
question
UNESCO - Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights 2005
answer
International standard for code of ethics
question
Examples of Conseqeuntialists vs Duty-Based
Examples of Conseqeuntialists vs Duty-Based
answer
*Conseqeuntialists*: Benefit and Harms Duty-Based0 if you have a right, i have a duty
question
Characteristics of Non- Hippocratic Codes (3)
answer
1- Often from groups outside health professions 2- Concern with* social as well as patient welfare* 3-*Concern with duties and rights* as well as benefits and harms
question
Moral standing
answer
The term used to describe the moral status of beings - interests must be given moral consideration
question
Moral standing: Full vs Limited (w/examples)
answer
*Full Standing* - Living human beings -"1 person 1 vote" - as much claim as someone else *Limited Standing* - "Some claim/respect" - Human corpses -Egg and Sperm cells -non-human animals -perhaps fetuses
question
3 views on the definition of death
answer
1- Cardiac-oriented (circulatory) view 2- Whole brain oriented view 3- Higher brain oriented view
question
Cardiac-oriented (circulatory) view
answer
An individual dies when there is *irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory function* "Oriented"- not just the heart- if circulation is okay, still good "Clinical Death"- phrase often used- confusing
question
*Clinical Death phrase* in context of cardiac oriented view of death
answer
mistakenly used in hospitals when the patient may have his heart stop- but then can be rescusistated --confusing/meaningless
question
Whole brain oriented view
answer
an individual dies when there is *irreversible cessation of ALL functions of the Entire brain (including brain stem* ---*This is the current law* with Exceptions in Japan, NY, NY
question
What is the exception for the whole brain oriented view in Japan?
answer
Whole Brain oriented view of death is valid *only when these 3 things are satisfied* 1-Candidate registered for organ donor 2- Consent to the use of Brain Death criteria for death 3- Family concurs
question
What is the exception for the whole brain oriented view in NY/NJ
answer
Whole Brain oriented view of death is valid *unless there is registered WRITTEN religious objections to this definition*
question
Higher brain oriented view
answer
An individual dies when there is an *irreversible loss of "higher brain function" (consciousness)* Not currently the law
question
3 Views of when Abortion is still acceptable until Note- Similar to definitions of death
answer
1-Acceptable until *capacity for higher brain function* exists (Liberal = 24 weeks) 2-Acceptable until * any brain function* exists (Moderate = 8-10 weeks) 3-Acceptable until *capacity for cardiac function* exists --from latest to soonest
question
Abortion: Capacity vs Potential
answer
*Capacity*: -Actual ability to carry out function (ie- pump blood, nervous system, consciousness) *Potential*: (arises earlier than capacity) -Genetic program to develop the capacity to carry out the critical function (*conception---up to primitive streak*)
question
Non-human Animal Views (3)
answer
1- *Western (Traditional)*: -sharp division between humans and other animals 2- *Eastern* -Closer connections with animals (avoid doing harm) -ie hindu doctrines 3-*Recent Western* -Speciesism- membership in a species per se is relevant to moral standing -speciesists allow the interests of their own species to override the greater interests of members of other species
question
4 problems in *Assessing Patient's Benefit and harm*
answer
1- *Judgment: Objective vs Subjective* 2-*Medical vs Other Benefits* 3- *Conflicting Medical goals* 4-*Relating Benefits to Harm*
question
2 types of prinicples
answer
*Principle* - general characteristic of actions that make them morally right *virtue* character trait of a person
question
2 - Consequence -Maximizing Principles
answer
*Beneficence* -Doing good for the patient *Nonmaleficence* -Not doing harm *Hippocratic oath--> both of these* = Consequentialist principles
question
Utility
answer
Combined beneficence and nonmaleficence *Maximize* net good
question
Judgment: Objective vs Subjective (3 ) Ideas (1st issue problem with assessing patient's benefits vs harms)
answer
1- *hippocratic principle* - *clinician subjective judgment* of facts and therapy 2- *modern medicine* -use objective judgement of medical facts and science to tell which therapy is best (ie- journal of medicine) 3-*Postmodern or Contemporary* -Factual judgements should be objective -therapeutic choices are value judgments *Patient's values should take precedence*
question
Medical vs Other Benefits (2nd issue problem with assessing patient's benefits vs harms)
answer
Is the physician trying to *maximize the patient's health or maximize patient's total welfare?* - if goal = health, patient may want to trade health off for other goods -if goal= total welfare, physician may be inadequate
question
Conflicting Medical Goals- (know 4 ) (3rd issue problem with assessing patient's benefits vs harms)
answer
even if our goal is to maximize health..how do we prioritize 1- Save life 2- Cure disease 3- Relieve suffering 4- Promote health
question
Relating Benefits to Harm (know 2 formulas) (4th issue problem with assessing patient's benefits vs harms)
answer
How to we compare benefits to harms 1- *Hippocratic formula* - Arithmetic (subtract benefits- harms) - Geometric (ratio benefits/harms) 2- *Primum non noncere* (first off, do not harm) choose option that has least harm
question
Consequential vs Duty Based Ethics *4 Respect for persons Principles
Consequential vs Duty Based Ethics  *4 Respect for persons Principles
answer
1- Fidelity (promise-keeping and confidentiality) 2- Autonomy (informed consent) 3- Veracity (truth-telling) 4- Avoidance of Killing (euthanasia)
question
Fidelity Hippocratic principle vs fidelity
answer
Duty of Loyalty - conflict with producing benefits *Confidentiality* *Hippocratic principle*- justifies breaking confidence to benefit the patient (paternalism) *Fidelity*- supports a duty to keep promises of confidence even if a patient would benefit from breaking it
question
Fidelity: Codes Permitting Paternalism Disclosure (breach) - 4 codes
answer
*Hippocratic principle*- justifies breaking confidence to *benefit the patient* (paternalism) 1- *Hippocratic Oath* 2- *British medical Association* pre-1971 3- *AMA Pre 1980* 4- *SGU* (for the good of our patient)
question
Fidelity: Codes NOT permitting paternalistic disclosures (no-breach) 3 codes Note Years
answer
1- *World Medical Assoc.- Declaration of Geneva* 1948 - Cannot break confidentiality - No matter what- exception-less -Keep confidentiality !! 2-*British Medical association* 1971 -Can *only break confidentiality IF:* -Patient agrees - Formal public policy 3- *American Medical Association- 1980* Can *only break if serious threat to harm others* (may include HIV)
question
Autonomy (informed Consent) history
answer
Absent in Hippocratic ethics Absent from all ancient traditions Grounded in liberal political philosophy and *Kant* Some compatibility with *early christianity*
question
Autonomy = Rights 2 types
answer
Rights= Justified moral or legal claims to entitlements or liberties Given precedence over consequences 1-*Negative Rights* - "Liberty Rights" -Right to be left alone 2-"Positive Rights* - "Entitlement Rights" -Right to have good or service
question
Autonomy - Hippocratic Discussion? Therapeutic privilege
answer
Hippocratic ethic *weak justification for consent* -therapeutic privilege= clinicain's privilege of withholding information that he believes will be harmful Note- principle of autonomy provides stronger requirement of informing the patient
question
Natanson vs Kiline 1960 - issues on therapeutic privelege
answer
Established *physician must ensure disclosure is sufficient to assure an informed consent*
question
3 Standards for informing (duty to inform- recall pope)
answer
1- *Professional Standard* (reasonable physician) -what competent physicians similarly situated would disclose 2-*Reasonable person standard* -what a reasonable patient would want to know 3- The subjective standard -what *specific patient* would want to know ex- pianist getting hand surgery
question
What is the emerging consensus regarding informing?
answer
Autonomy requires the use of the *reasonable person standard* modified by the *patient's subjective interests* = reasonable person standard + subjective standard
question
Veracity (one of the 4 respect for persons- principles)
answer
Truth telling and lying Disclosure
question
*Meyer* on Veracity Basis?
answer
*Opposes Disclosure* - physician has the right to withhold, if it does more harm (ie cancer--> depression) Basis: Hippocratic Oath
question
*Fletcher* on Veracity Basis?
answer
Normal practice should disclose for benefit of patient Basis: Hippocratic Oath
question
Novack, Dennis - 1979 study on Veracity
answer
88% tend to *withhold cancer diagnosis*
question
Donald Oken 1961- Study on veracity
answer
98% tend to *disclose cancer diagnosis*
question
W.D Ross on Veracity
answer
*Favors Disclosure* -Need to balance: Hippocratic Utility and Veracity
question
American Medical Association 1980- on Veracity based on 2 philosophers
answer
"Physician shall deal honestly with patients and colleagues" *shift from hippocratic oath to duty based* -Ideology: KANT and Fletcher
question
4- Key issues of Death and Dying (Competent Patients)
answer
1- Active Killing vs Letting Go (passive) 2- Stopping vs Not starting 3- Direct vs Indirect 4- Ordinary vs Extraordinary Ethical way of death involve =Letting go + indirect form
question
Active Killing 2 types
answer
General Rule: Unethical 1- Homicide -ordinary homicide - Homicide on request 2- Assisted Suicide
question
Assisted Suicide vs Homicide on request
answer
*Assisted Suicide* -helping a patient take his own life ex- " prescribing a drug and writing instructions for a patient to take his own life" *Homicide on request* -Doctor takes the last step and ends the patient's life on request ex- Doctor injects lethal dose into the patient
question
Letting Go (Passive) -2 ways
answer
General Rule: Usually Ethical and permissible =Forgoing Life Support 1- Withholding 2- Withdrawing
question
Stopping Vs Not starting
answer
Clinicians feel Stopping (Withdrawing) and Not Starting (withholding) are different... However - everyone else says *the 2 terms mean the same thing* Lawyers theologists Philosophers
question
Ordinary (in terms of death and dying)
answer
=proportionally beneficial (ie benefits greater than burdens) - required to do
question
Extraordinary (in terms of death and dying)
answer
= benefits do not exceed burdens Not required to do
question
2 Arguments against distinction of "active killing and Letting die" (ie active killing = same thing as letting die)
answer
Jack Kovorkian = Consequentialist theory of Utility =Benefit the patient to assist in their suicide 1- The consequences of Active killing *is no worse * than letting someone die, in some instances it might be better. (ie Jack kovorkian) 2- *Autonomy* should give competent people the right to kill themselves (ie gives right to consent or withhold ...thus it should give right to kill yourself if competent)
question
3 Arguments for distinction between "active killing and Letting die" (ie active killing is NOT same thing as letting die)
answer
1- Consequences of active killing may be worse (ie may weaken societies opposition to killing) 2- Patient *autonomy requires clinician not to treat* but does NOT require physician to actively kill 3- Active killing is simply inherently wrong (ie *KANT*) - always unacceptable
question
SGU Oath- on killing and death
answer
pledge not to maliciously cause death of anyone
question
Indirect Killing (2)
answer
*Unintended to harm* (ie side effect) - Acceptable It can be: *Active*- (anesthesia side effect- without intention) *Passive*- ( forgoing life-support) *Note- sometimes foreseen deaths may be unintended ie - hysterectomy to save pregnant woman - did not intend to kill baby
question
Direct Killing (2)
answer
*Intended to cause harm* - NEVER acceptable It can be: *Active*- (giving lethal injection, assisted suicide) *Passive*- ( patient who you want to die, you walk out the door when he needs resuscitation )
question
Death in regards : 3 types*incompetent patients* which are...
answer
1- Formerly Competent Patients 2- Never Competent Patients without Family 3- Never Competent Patients with Family
question
Formerly Competent Patients Principles: Moral Legal
answer
Expressed wishes about terminal care while competent via 1- *Substantive directives*- Yes/no on future decisions 2- *Proxy Directives*- entrusts a surrogate *Moral = Autonomy Extended* - patient was once autonomous and had wishes--extend them to when not competent *Legal= Substituted Judgment*- Proxy makes a decision *based on patient's* values, beliefs etc (in their shoes)
question
Never Competent Patients without Family (3) Principles: Moral Legal
answer
No one with standing to speak for patient--need to find surrogate (3) 1- Rely on hospital ethics committee 2- Legalize attending physician surrogacy 3- *get a guardian appointed legally* (best) Moral =* Hippocratic Uitlity* - whats best for patient Legal = *Best Interest*
question
Never Competent Patients with Family Principles: Moral Legal
answer
Family given standing to speak for patient ---*usually Next of kin* Exceptions: proven malicious, unreasonable, unwilling Moral =* Limited Familial Autonomy* Legal = * Limited Familial Autonomy* "family has decision to make single best choice but will give them a range of options that are reasonable"
question
Given : Chart of Aggegate Medical Benefit as a function of days spent in hospital (4- view on number)
Given : Chart of Aggegate Medical Benefit as a function of days spent in hospital (4- view on number)
answer
1-* Hippocratic Utility(Subjective)*- For the benefit of the patient according to the *physician's ability* (N+Gamma) - tends to stay longer than the max benefit period; tend to get Iaterogenic illness 2- *Peer Review Objective*(hippocratic- objective)- EBM - more benefit less costs (N) 3- *Post Modern* -EBM plus Patient's Perspective - *Autonomy* (subjective judgement) = (N-A) - patient's prefences 4-* Societal View*- only marginal benefit to patient- need to pay for everything else - (N-A-B)
question
Hippocratic utility
answer
Consequentialist - Individual *Benefit patient according to the doctor's ability*
question
Declaration of Geneva
answer
For the Health of the Patient
question
Principle of Social Utility 2- problems
answer
Action in which it produces the most amount of good in total for the most amount of people Problems: 1-*Quantification Problem* - how do you make an objective measurement for quantifying comparisons? *Rank order based on amount of good produced per dollar invested (medicare?) 2- *Inequality Problem* -hard to allocate resources fairly
question
Quality of Life Adjusted Measure
answer
QLAY Unit = 1 Year benefit at Perfect Health Thus a patient who is sick at level 0.50 for 2 years will have 1 QLAY units
question
Possible " End State Patterns" (5) Aristotle + Modern
answer
*Aristotle Pattern* 1- Slave vs Free 2- Rich vs Poor 3- Aristocrat vs commoner *Modern* 4- Effort (more effort--> more reward) 5- Need (more need--> more money)
question
Principle of Justice Problem
answer
Action that strives for an "end-state pattern" of the distribution of the good- *Fairness and Equity- how goods "ought to be distributed"* -Helps those who are worse off (ie allowing more women for kidney transplant than already high number of male candidates) Problems -*Less Efficient* -may not do as much goo as the principle of social utility
question
Med Students Social principle preference
answer
Social Utility
question
2 Groups: Which decision show Justice and which is for social utility
2 Groups: Which decision show Justice and which is for social utility
answer
*Group A* = Justice - Helps the sickest patients improve -*Less efficient* -only 20 units x number of pts =benefit -Targets those who are worse off *Group B* = Social Utility - "do as much good for as many people" -30 units x number of pts = benefit -More efficient -But helps those who are already better off
question
Reconciling the conflict among competing Principles (4) methods - how to choose which ethics
answer
1-Single Principle theories 2- Balancing theories (prima facie duties and duty proper) 3- Ranking (lexically ordering) 4- Combining balancing and ranking
question
Single Principle theories : how to choose which ethics
answer
Pick only 1 principle - Reduce all the other ones
question
Balancing theories: how to choose which ethics
answer
Duties to consider =*Prima Facie Duties* - look at all of them first The winning principle =*Duty Proper* Ie - Ross descides between Veracity and Hippocratic Utility (Prima Dutie Facie) --Chooses Veracity (Duty proper)
question
Ranking / Lexical ordering : how to choose which ethics
answer
Order principles- and prioritize (ie Autonomy > Justice> Social Utility) Rank, Then order based on precedence
question
Combining balancing and ranking : how to choose which ethics
answer
1- Rank Principles 2- Then Balance competing claims that have the same rank IE- Rank 1- Duty Based Principles (autonomy, fidelity, veracity, avoidance of killing and Justice) 2- Consequentialist Principles Balance-Autonomy> Fidelity
question
2 Options : the clinicians role in allocating resources (social ethical problem)
answer
1- Let clinicians abandon their patients at the margin (be the one to cut costs) *Problems* : -Difficulty calculating - Abandons *hippocratic oath*- no longer a patient-centered physician 2- Give clinicians exemption from the principle of social ethics (only individual basis/patient) - *allows doctors to remain loyal to paiteints* *Problems* : -another party has to do the rationing for resources
question
Law and Seminaries Social principle preference
answer
Justice
Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New