Ethics

1
Ethics

• Theories and Principles

2
Aims

• Definition
• Scope
• Theories and principles

3
Relevance of Ethics

• Public profile/ Awareness/ Policy
• Frozen embryos
• Transplant funding
• Euthanasia
• Consent
• Resuscitation
• ..

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Relevance of Ethics

• 2)Technology
• 3)Information Better/worse

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History and Scope

• Socrates
• Aristotle
• Hippocrates
• Nuremberg
• Tuskogee

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Primary Theory

• Deontological
• Utilitarian (Consequentialist)

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Operational Principles

1. Beneficence
2. Non-Maleficence
3. Autonomy
4. Truth telling
5. Confidentiality
6. Preservation of Life
7. Distributive Justice

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Autonomy Competence

1. Capacity
2. Consistency
3. Consequences

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Beneficence, Non-Maleficence

• 1)Is the patient your only concern?
• (conflict with utility?)
• 2)Do we always know what is good for the patient?

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Truth TellingIn much wisdom is much
sorrow and he that increases knowledge increases
sorrows(Ecclesiastics 118)
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Confidentiality

• Trust
• Clash abuse
• Should patients have access to their notes?

12
Preservation of Life

• When does life begin?
• Can we assess another persons quality of life?

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Euthanasia

• Active active intervention to end life
• Passive withholding treatment
• Voluntary
• Doctor assisted suicide
• Non-voluntary ending life without consent of
  the patient
• Involuntary ending life against a patients will

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Distributive Justice

• When resources are scarce
• Pandemic
• Economic catastrophe