ethics compiled bm3
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Ethics Compilation Bimonthly3TRANSCRIPT
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EUTHANASIA 101212
Greek-Roman period - A noble death - No role for doctors
17th
century - Medical assistance in good dying - No active intervention
19th
century - Active medical intervention
Euthanasia
The intentional termination of life of a person by someone else upon the formers request.
Respect for patients autonomy and freedom of choice Why are there requests for euthanasia?
When the following needs of terminally ill patients are not properly addressed: - Physical - Mental - Social - Spiritual
Countries where it is legally accepted:
Netherlands
Belgium
USA (Oregon, Washington) Netherlands
Voluntary and well-considered request by the patient
Hopeless and unbearable suffering on the part of the patient
The doctor informed the patient about the situation and his prospects, and come to conclusion with the latter that there is absence of other reasonable solutions
Physician must consult at least one other independent physician
Good medical practice
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Things to consider
Hopelessness - Not determined by patient alone - Medical irreversibility
Unbearability
Euthanasia can never be an option for a psychiatric patient Euthanasia (Netherlands) 2001
768 doctors
87% - euthanasia is justifiable
57% have carried out euthanasia
10% will not carry out but will refer
1% reject euthanasia, will not carry out nor refer Euthanasia and Palliative Care
There is a direct connection between the quality of palliative care and the demand for euthanasia. The demand decreases if the quality of care increases.
Good palliative care cannot prevent or take away all requests for euthanasia.
Important things to remember:
Life is a gift from God
Transgresses Thou shall not kill.
Deplorable shift in the vocation of medicine
Undermine trusting relationship between caregivers and patient and their families
Request for euthanasia is just a protest against situation of suffering and anxiety.
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Med Ethics Genetics
Diseases with established genetic predisposition Cancer CVD Dementia Cystic fibrosis Huntingtons disease Diabetes
Genetic Testing/Screening
More knowledge re Human Genome
Future of pharmacogenetics
3rd
party interest (Health Insurance, etc)
Genetic Testing for individual situation, individual (a family member) takes the initiative, genetic condition present.
For population/ groups, little or no information/ direct experience, health authorities take the initiative/chose target groups.
Forms of Genetic Testing
1. Diagnostic 2. Predictive (pre-symptomatic, predisposition) 3. Reproductive 4. Pharmacogenetic
Benefits of Genetic Testing/Screening
1. Certainty-better planning f life decisions 2. Prophylactic/preventive measures 3. Avoidance of future pain/suffering 4. Alleviate burden in the society 5. Avoidance of serious side effects 6. More effective drug use 7. Savings in health costs 8. Personalized drugs
Potential harm of genetic testing/screening 1. difficult decisions 2. psychological stress (loss of hop, anxiety, etc.) 3. Family tension 4. Stress-diet and lifestyle modifiaion 5. Exclusion 6. Marginalization
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Gene Therapy
1. personalized treatment 2. avoidance of pain/suffering 3. lesser burden to family and society 4. loner life 5. better quality of life
Embryo experimentation - a tempting pre-requisite/consequence of gene therapy - opens legalizations of abortion to societies
Ethical Considerations
- values and rights - bioethical principles; respect for persons, beneficence, non-malifecence,
justice, solidarity.
Abortion
Debate Should abortion be legalized in our country?
3 views on moral assessment of abortion
I. Pro life
Abortion is seldom if ever morally acceptable
Fetus = person from the moment of conception
Abortion= killing
Declaration of procured abortion (SCDF, Feb 1987) o Life is at the same time a gift and responsibility o Man can never be treated simply as a means to be disposed of
in order to obtain a higher end. o The first right of human is right to life
II. Pro-choice
Fetus is not equal to human person.
Abortion is almost always justifiable
Asymmetry in the moral status of the fetus and the pregnant woman III. Intermediate
Abortion is sometimes morally permissible
Depends on the fetus prospect for future health and welfare
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Womans reason for seeking abortion
Stage of fetal development.
MEDICAL ETHICS NOTES
ETHICAL CASE DELIBERATION
Morals/ Morality entirety of intuitions, beliefs, convictions and considered judgments
Ethics the systematic reflection and deliberation about morals and morality
The Nijmegen Method
1. What is the moral problem? o Moral we solve the problem ourselves o Clinical can be solved through case presentations, grand
rounds
2. Inventory of facts and interpretation o Medical diagnosis, therapy, prognosis o Nursing o Patients values and social situation
Patients view on life Religious community; pastoral care Patients view of his illness Social background Effect of illness to patients family, his life
o Organizational
3. Moral evaluation
4. Decision-making SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN DEALING WITH ETHICAL CASES
1. Children 2. Incapable patients 3. Patients undergoing long-term treatments
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ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY
1. Ovulatory 2. Artificial Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
o Homologous o Heterologous
3. In-Vitro Fertilization separates the unitive and procreative aspects of marriage; involves intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS LIFE
1. Vulnerable, fragile A. Not to harm but to safeguard
Thou shall not kill. B. Do not put life at a disproportionate risk
Embryonic cell research In-vitro Fertilization
Do good.
Uphold the intrinsic dignity of the human person
Born within and from marriage in an act of conjugal love o Technology over humanity, i.e. IVF, surrogate pregnancy,
gamete donation, etc. Promote life.
Within the nature of man. (Technology should not replace this) Used as a means
To save a name, legacy, marriage, therapeutic cloning
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MEDICAL ETHICS LECTURE (081712) XU-JPRSM Batch 2014
MEDICAL UTOPIAN IDEAS
Life without disease or pain
Overcoming of the aging process
Improvement and perfection of man GENETICS
Diseases with established genetic predisposition: o Cancer o Cardiovascular diseases o Dementia o Cystic Fibrosis o Huntingtons Disease o Diabetes
GENETIC TESTING/ SCREENING
More knowledge regarding the human genome
Future of pharmacogenetics (advantage)
Third party interest (Health insurance, etc.)
Genetic testing for individual situation, individual (a family member) takes the initiative, genetic condition present.
TESTING SCREENING
Initiative come from individuals themselves
Initiative comes from health authorities/ government to
allocate budget for the susceptible individuals
Parents with DM who want to check if their 5 children have the disease so that they can modify the risk factors already present.
For populations/ groups, little/ no information/ direct experience,
health authorities take the initiative and choose the target
groups
FORMS OF GENETIC TESTS:
1. Diagnostic for those already having the s/sx 2. Predictive (pre-symptomatic, predisposition) checking individual
status before getting married whether 1 of them carries the gene of a special disease that can be passed on to their future children
3. Reproductive
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4. Pharmacogenetic eg. Some medications are tailor-made to avoid specific reactions
BENEFITS
Certainty better planning of life-decisions
Prophylactic/ preventive measures
Avoidance of future pain/ suffering
Alleviate burden in the society
Avoidance of serious side effects
More effective drug use
Savings in health costs
Personalized drugs POTENTIAL HARM OF GENETIC TESTING/ SCREENING
Difficult decision
Psychological stress (loss of hope; anxiety, etc.)
Family tensions children might blame their parents
Stress diet and lifestyle modification
Exclusion
Marginalization (insurance problems) GENE THERAPY
Personalized treatment
Avoidance of pain and suffering
Lesser burden to the family and society
Better quality of life EMBRYO EXPERIMENTATION
A tempting prerequisite/ consequence of gene therapy
Opens legalization of abortion to societies
Devaluation of human life
Respect to human life is violated ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Values and rights
Bioethical principles: o Respect for persons o Beneficence o Non-maleficence o Justice
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o Solidarity ABORTION
3 views: o Pro-life o Pro-choice o Intermediate
PRO-LIFE
Abortion is seldom, if ever morally evil
Fetus = person killing
Declaration on Procured Abortion (SCDF, Feb 1987) o In the image of God man was made o Life is at the same time a gift and a responsibility o The first right of the human person is his life
PRO CHOICE
Abortion is almost always justifiable
Asymmetry in the moral value of the fetus and the pregnant woman
Woman fetus INTERMEDIATE
Abortion is sometimes morally permissible
Depends on: o Fetus with respect to future health and welfare o Womans reasons for selecting abortion o Stage of fetal development
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MEDICAL ETHICS 2ND
YEAR NOTES XU-JPRSM Batch 2014
PRINCIPLES OF STEWARDSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY, and TOTALITY
Stewardship
Man is only a steward
Everything in this planet is a gift from God
Man has the responsibility to improve, to care, to cultivate, and to respect each others capabilities and limitations
Man is accountable for what he is, what he is capable of doing, and what he makes of himself.
Ownership Stewardship
To have dominion over something
Freely given
Involves control Involves taking care of the gits
Issues involving stewardship: a) Assisted reproduction b) Face-lift, liposuction, breast augmentation c) Use of prosthetic legs and tooth braces d) Use of memory-enhancing drugs e) Human experimentation
Whatever you do, see to it that your motivation is good, and that the effect will be good for you, the society, and the environment.
Informed consent is important the person involved should be aware of the risks and the available alternative that he/ she can have.
Weigh the benefits from the potential risks (involves the Principle of Double Effect).
Totality
Wholeness; it involves not only the physical but also the spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and social aspects of the person as well.
Individual parts versus the whole
Removal of a diseased organ versus removal of a healthy organ
Totality is compromised when vital structures are damaged.
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CONFIDENTIALITY, COOPERATION, PROMISE KEEPING, and TRUTH-TELLING
Confidentiality
An essential element of a good physician-patient relationship
Based on respect for person, trust
What a health worker knows about the patient he keeps to himself, he CANNOT tell others.
Why is confidentiality important?
To develop trust from the patient
To promote peace What information should be held confidential?
Those which can hurt the dignity of the patient
Names/ identities of patients with specific diseases To what extent should confidentiality be kept?
When keeping the secret already harms others
Violation is permitted if the greater good is at stake.
Secrets should be revealed if it can already endanger the lives of others. This is done to avoid further harm to those who are immediately at risk. e.g. The family of a patient with communicable disease.
Before revealing the secret to a third party, the doctor should ask permission from the patient.
Cooperation
The participation of more than 1 person with another (primary agent) to produce a particular/ joint effect.
Considered problematic when the action of the primary agent is morally wrong.
Kinds: 1. Formal 2. Material
a) Immediate b) Mediate
Formal
The secondary agent willingly participates, agrees, advises, counsels, promotes, or condones
The co-operator is equally guilty as the principal agent
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Material
The co-operator does not willingly participate Immediate Material
The action of the co-operator is inherently borne to the performance of the evil action
Equally guilty with the primary agent.
Mediate Material
Not one with another in action and intention
Doing good/ indifferent action that provides occasion of sin to another; or give assistance, means, or preparation for the sinful action of another.
Promise Keeping
Dependence, trust, and open communication
Health care workers have duties to the patients which may conflict with other entities (government, company, teaching, research society)
Doctors are the patients advocates Truth-telling/ Veracity
An essential part of a good patient-doctor relationship
An essential component of informed consent
An art, especially when communicating disturbing news
Comprehensive, accurate, and objective transmission of information, and at the same time fostering the patients understanding
Elements of the art of clinical communication: a) To whom? b) When? c) Where? d) By whom? e) Mitigating factors f) Voluntary refusal g) Understanding by the patient
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THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
The Health care provider:
Is committed to health care.
Is invested with authority moral or expert authority
Is responsible to the patients, his profession, and to the society
Should be competent; has scientific and interpersonal skill
Has a right to cooperation, just compensation, respect, and good reputation
Has the right to refuse a patient Virtues
Acquired habits or the disposition to do what is morally right Virtues of Health care professionals:
1. FIDELITY
Faithfulness
Keeping promises to patients, colleagues and superiors
Keeping the patients best interest first
2. HONESTY
Truthfulness to the patient, his family, to fellow colleagues and to the society
Telling the truth with regards to the patients illness, its nature, prognosis, effectiveness of care and research findings
3. INTEGRITY
Wholeness
Coherence
Doing what you are saying.
4. HUMILITY
Recognizing ones capabilities and limitations
Recognizing that the patient knows what is best for him.
5. RESPECT
Paying attention to others (patient, colleagues, etc.)
6. COMPASSION
Loving kindness
Feeling for those who suffer
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Self-sacrifice voluntarily given for the benefit of another without counting the cost.
E.g. Working even beyond duty hours
7. PRUDENCE
Foresight
Habitual deliberateness, caution, and circumspection in action
Looking before you leap.
Consider different options before making a decision
Know your patient first before you reveal the truth
8. COURAGE
Doing what one sees as right without undue fear
Standing up against what one sees as wrong even if it means standing up alone.
Goes hand-in-hand with honesty Vices
1. PRIDE
Inordinate self-esteem; conceit
A behaviour of superiority over others
2. GREED
Inordinate acquisitiveness (wealth, position, power)
Asking for a fee that is too much Developing virtues
A physician cannot buy or rent a virtue. He must develop it.
Each one has the potential to have it
It requires effort to cultivate and nurture
Without virtues, health care delivery becomes nothing more than a business contract.
With virtues, your service becomes priceless.
A reminder: Providing health care is not a career but a vocation.
RELIGIONS INFLUENCE IN BIOETHICS
Different religions have different views
Some scholars in Islam believe that life begins 40 days after birth
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It is important to consider the views of your patients and colleagues
Religion has a great influence in Bioethics.
Extraordinary measures: a) Use of mechanical ventilator b) Use of medicines like Epinephrine to revive the patient c) Use of dialysis
In the end, the intention is whats most important.
MEDICAL ETHICS FIRST BIMONTHLY EXAM
XU-JPRSM Batch 2014 I. Choose the best answer.
1. A 78-year old woman has stage IV breast CA. She had a heart attack a week ago and is now conscious and coherent. As the attending physician, her daughter asked you not to tell her mother that she has cancer. What bioethical principle was violated?
ANS: Principle of Autonomy
2. Elsa had ectopic tubal pregnancy. Her doctor did a salpingectomy. What bioethical principle was involved?
ANS: Beneficence
3. A 16-year old girl underwent a bilateral mastectomy because her mother was diagnosed to have breast carcinoma. What bioethical principle was violated?
ANS: Non-maleficence
4. MC, 56 years old, a chain smoker, had an acute myocardial infarction. AN, 54 years old, a non-smoker, was admitted due to severe pain. Both were advised to undergo coronary artery bypass. Only one cardiac catheter was available in the locality. What bioethical principle is involved?
ANS: Justice
5. In ethical case deliberation, the following are included in the medical facts, except:
A. Diagnosis B. Arrangements in patients care C. Prognosis
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D. Treatment interventions
6. Which of the following is not a function of the Healthcare Ethics committee?
A. Consultation B. Request for acquisition of new high-tech gadgets C. Policy/ guideline development D. Multidisciplinary discussion
7. Giving up ones claim on a health care resource so that those who can
benefit more from it can have it. ANS: Solidarity
8. Milo, an office employee, had a sprained ankle. He asked his doctor to
admit him in a hospital so that he can charge his expenses to his company and so that he can be excused from his work. What virtue of a physician is at stake?
ANS: Veracity
9. We are always morally required to perform all possible acts of generosity that would benefit others.
ANS: False
10. The Principle of Double Effect includes the following, except: A. The good effect is the intended effect B. The act is indifferent if not good C. The effect always justifies the means D. There is a proportionate reason why the bad effect was
allowed
11. This is a positive aspect of the Healthcare Ethics Committee: A. Diffusion of responsibilities B. Wide scope of the agenda C. Enhance the education of all involved D. Takes longer time to arrive at a decision
12. Biomedical ethics came about due to:
A. Socio-cultural changes B. Emergence of modern medical technologies C. None of the above D. All of the above
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13. Patients autonomy includes the following:
A. Being spared from knowing his illness B. Be informed only of modern interventions C. His involvement in the decision-making process D. Family values, opinions, and judgment prevail
14. Informed consent is an expression of what bioethical principle?
ANS: Autonomy
15. The bioethical principle that is concerned of distributing health resources to the greatest number of population:
ANS: Justice
16. Elsa is 34 years old, single, who works in a bank. She does not want to get married but she badly wants to have a child. She came to your fertility clinic for an IVF. She does not want to know any data about the sperm donor.
ANS: Autonomy
17. Mario and Glenda would like to have another baby. Sue, their first child is 4 years old and is suffering of Leukemia. No one among their relatives is histocompatible with Sue. They went to a clinic for IVF so that they can choose only the histocompatible embryo to be transferred for implantation.
ANS: Autonomy
18. A researcher at an infertility clinic is making use of the 3 years old excess human embryos. The clinic tells their clients that they will keep their excess embryos for 5 years.
ANS: Autonomy