Download Health Care Ethics

Health Care
Ethics
Ethics: Good of the individual
concentrating on motives and
attitudes.
Moral: Concept of what is right or
wrong as it relates to conscience.
Statutes: A law enacted by the
legislative branch of a government
(reflects society’s needs, attitudes,
and morals.)
CODE OF ETHICS:
(Professional conduct)
standards of behavior on the
rights and dignity of the
patient as an individual.
COMPARISON BETWEEN
ETHICS AND LAW

ETHICS
– Internal
– Concerned with
motive
– Interests of the
individual
– Right-something
to which one has
a morally
justified claim

LAW
– External
– Concerned with
overt acts or
conduct
– Interests of
society
– Right-power or
privilege
inherent in one
person or
enforceable in a
court of law
Morality is concerned with
what people believe to be
right and good conduct.
Ethics is the part of
philosophy that deals with
systematic approaches to
questions of morality. It
provides the intellectual
framework that allows us to
analyze and make decisions
in regard to moral choices.
In general, the basic principles
involved in health care ethics
are:
Autonomy, veracity,
beneficence, nonmaleficence,
justice, confidentiality, and role
fidelity.
Questions:
Should the elderly be provided the
same level of health care as that
provided for children?
 Should patients with “Do Not
Resuscitate” orders be treated in
intensive care?
 Must a health care provider who is HIV
positive relate this to his patients?
 Who should live when not all can live?

Questions:
Is there a morality to mercy killing?
 Is there a right to health care? If there is
a right, what is the limit of that right?
 What is the meaning of confidentiality
when, on the average, over 75 different
individuals have access to information
form our medical records?
