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Lecture 6 Ethics

This document discusses ethics in healthcare. It begins by defining ethics as principles that guide moral decisions and notes that modern medicine has created many ethical dilemmas. It then explores key concepts like patients' rights, advance directives, and professional standards. Specific topics covered include the differences between ethics, morals and values; principles of medical ethical codes like treating all patients equally; types of euthanasia like passive vs. active; and definitions of assisted suicide.

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Sajida Bibi Noonari
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94 views24 pages

Lecture 6 Ethics

This document discusses ethics in healthcare. It begins by defining ethics as principles that guide moral decisions and notes that modern medicine has created many ethical dilemmas. It then explores key concepts like patients' rights, advance directives, and professional standards. Specific topics covered include the differences between ethics, morals and values; principles of medical ethical codes like treating all patients equally; types of euthanasia like passive vs. active; and definitions of assisted suicide.

Uploaded by

Sajida Bibi Noonari
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ETHICS IN HEALTH CARE

INTRODUCTION
Ethics allows a health care worker to
analyze information and make decisions
based on what is right and good conduct
Modern health care has created many
ethical dilemmas for the health care
worker
This lesson will explore ethics, patients’
rights, advance directives and professional
standards for the health care worker

10/10/19 ETHICS IN HEALTH CARE 2


ETHICS
A set of principles
relating to what is
morally right or wrong
Provide a conduct or
code of behavior
Each profession has
their own code of ethics
developed by their
national organizations
Most contain the same
basic principles however
they may differ slightly
HOW DOES ETHICS
DIFFER FROM MORALS
AND VALUES?
Values – what is
important and
worthwhile
Basis for moral code
and ethical reflection
Based on family,
religion, peers,
culture, race, social
background, etc.
HOW DOES ETHICS
DIFFER FROM MORALS
AND VALUES?
Morals are a system of
right or wrong that
guides a person's
conduct
Tend to be simple and
general
Are an expression of
values reflected in
action and practice
HOW DOES ETHICS
DIFFER FROM MORALS
AND VALUES?
Morals and values are a part of
the behavioural aspect of a
person. Moral is a system of
beliefs that is taught for deciding
good or bad whereas values are
personal beliefs or something
that comes from within. These
are emotionally related for
deciding right or wrong.
Ethics allow a health care
provider to analyze information
and make decisions based on
what people believe is right and
wrong
ETHICAL CODES

Ethical guidelines are


often provided for
different professions by
an ethical code
Hippocrates wrote the
first ethical code for
physicians
1. True or False: If something is wrong, it will
also be illegal.
A. True
B. False
 
2. True or False: Many professions in the health
care field have established ethical standards.
A. True
B. False
 
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF
MEDICAL ETHICAL CODES
1. Save lives and promote
health above all else
2. Make every effort to keep
patient as comfortable as
possible and to preserve life
when possible
3. Treat all patients equally
(avoid bias, prejudice, and
discrimination)

4. Respect patient’s choice to


die peacefully and with dignity
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF
MEDICAL ETHICAL CODES
5. Will keep up their skills
and continuing education
6. Will maintain
confidentiality
Gossiping about patients
is ethically wrong
7. Avoid immoral,
unethical, and illegal
practices
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF
MEDICAL ETHICAL CODES
8. Show loyalty to
patients, co-
workers, and
employer
9. Be sincere,
honest, and caring
PROFESSIONAL
STANDARDS
MEDICAL ERRORS
10. Be honest and
report all errors and
mistakes immediately
to your supervisor
Provide care for all
persons to the best of
your ability
11. Maintain competent
level of skill consistent
with occupation
PROFESSIONAL
STANDARDS
TIPS

Don’t accept monetary tips


Patients are billed for your
services
EUTHANASIA

Means “good death” or


“easy death”
Synonym – “mercy killing”
Euthanasia is the practice
of intentionally ending a
life to relieve pain and
suffering. Different
countries have different
euthanasia laws.
TYPES OF EUTHANASIA
Passive
Process of dying is
allowed to proceed
without intervention when
treatment is considered
futile
DNR (do-not-resuscitate
order) order, removal of
live supports
In passive euthanasia
they don't directly take
the patient's life, they just
allow them to die.
TYPES OF EUTHANASIA
Passive
Passive euthanasia is when
death is brought about by
an omission - i.e. when
someone lets the person die.
This can be by withdrawing or
withholding treatment:
Withdrawing treatment: for
example, switching off a
machine that is keeping a
person alive, so that they die
of their disease.
Withholding treatment: for
example, not carrying out
surgery that will extend life for
a short time.
TYPES OF EUTHANASIA
Active
Assisting someone to commit
suicide
The act or practice of
painlessly putting to death
persons suffering from
incurable or distressing
diseases
In active euthanasia a person
directly and deliberately
causes the patient's death.
Active euthanasia is when
death is brought about by
an act - for example when a
person is killed by being given
an overdose of pain-killers.
Traditionally, passive euthanasia is thought of as less
bad than active euthanasia. But some people think
active euthanasia is morally better.
TYPES OF EUTHANASIA

Voluntary
Voluntary euthanasia
occurs at the request of
the person who dies.
TYPES OF EUTHANASIA

Non-voluntary
Non-voluntary euthanasia Non-voluntary euthanasia
occurs when the person is also includes cases where
unconscious or otherwise the person is a child who is
unable (for example, a mentally and emotionally
very young baby or a able to take the decision,
person of extremely low but is not regarded in law
intelligence) to make a as old enough to take such
meaningful choice a decision, so someone
between living and dying, else must take it on their
and an appropriate person behalf in the eyes of the
takes the decision on their law.
behalf.
TYPES OF EUTHANASIA

Involuntary
Involuntary euthanasia
occurs when the person
who dies chooses life and
is killed anyway. This is
usually called murder, but
it is possible to imagine
cases where the killing
would count as being for
the benefit of the person
who dies.
TYPES OF EUTHANASIA
Indirect euthanasia
This means providing
treatment (usually to reduce
pain) that has the side effect
of speeding the patient's
death.
Since the primary intention is
not to kill, this is seen by some
people (but not all) as morally
acceptable.
A justification along these
lines is formally called the 
doctrine of double effect.
TYPES OF EUTHANASIA

Assisted suicide
This usually refers to cases
where the person who is
going to die needs help to
kill themselves and asks
for it. It may be something
as simple as getting drugs
for the person and putting
those drugs within their
reach.
FINISHED

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