Ethics Study Guide

Utilitarian

Type of ethical theory which weighs possible consequences and determines the best course of action on the basis of consequences (without regard to motives, intent, or conformity to deontological rules), and evaluating consequences on the basis of which ones result in the maximum degree of benefits over harms.

Deontological

Type of ethical theory which is concerned with moral rules which are generated by non-consequentialist methods, e.g., based in the nature of rationality or other principles of duty (but not on the basis of consequences of actions).

Autonomy

One principle of ethics is autonomy. Persons are deemed to have autonomy on the basis of their nature as rational and moral beings. Although primarily referring to patient autonomy, the principle may also be used to justify a physicianís personal or professional self determination as well. Autonomy is often expressed in terms of a patientís right to self-determination or in terms of respect for persons.

Beneficence

The obligation to promote a personís well being, especially a patientís health. Often spoken of as pursuing what is in the patientís best interest.

Non-Maleficence

The obligation to avoid harm.

Justice

In bioethics context, primarily used to mean distributive justice or fairness. Applied to determine on what basis scarce resources will be distributed, or alternatively, on what basis burdens will be fairly distributed. Not to be confused with poetic or legal justice.

Informed Consent

The process whereby patients, after being sufficiently informed to make a rational decision, are asked to consent to medical diagnosis or treatment, thereby respecting a personís basic right to self-determination and serving to protect against potential abuses of power or disequilibrium of information.

Components of Informed Consent

Disclosure of information, Comprehension, Voluntariness

Disclosure of Information

One of the three key ingredients of a valid informed consent. Entails disclosing relevant medical information to a patient contemplating diagnosis or treatment.

Standards of Disclosure

There are four basic possible standards of disclosure of information. Full Disclosure Standard, Subjective Standard, Customary Practice or Professional Standard, and Reasonable Person Standard. (You should be able to define each standard and to know the strengths and weakness of each standard.)

Comprehension

One of the three key ingredients of a valid informed consent. The information presented must be presented so that patient can understand that information to a reasonable degree.

Voluntariness

One of the three key ingredients of a valid informed consent. The physician or other persons may persuade the patient toward the best course of action, but the patient should not be coerced into accepting or rejecting medical diagnosis or treatment.

Consent Form

The consent form is evidence of a valid consent, but does not guarantee that a valid consent has occurred. A consent form is not the same thing as a valid consent process.

Confidentiality

The obligation of healthcare professionals to maintain patient medical and personal information in complete confidence. Narrow exceptions may sometimes be argued on the basis of avoiding the high probability of serious bodily harm to identifiable persons.

Ethics

The process of identifying, articulating, analyzing, and reflectively justifying the moral norms and values that characterize and guide decisions and actions for individuals and groups or organizations.

Descriptive Ethics

An elaboration of the moral norms and underlying values that are charac- teristicof a person or group as an ìobjectiveî neutral observer, without either endorsing or rejecting the moral position of those whose ethics you are describing.

Normative Ethics

Prescribing a moral evaluation, assessment, or argument that entails endorsement as a position that is valid and that others ìoughtî to follow or ìshouldî acknowledge.

Ethics Process

Identification of issues, alternative courses of action, assessment of reasons for possible courses of action, and a conclusion of preferred course of action or an acceptable range of options.