亦萱心情地带

Medical ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values to the practice of clinical medicine and in scientific research.

Four principles of Medical Ethics:

1. Respect for autonomy ( "autos" - self and "nomos" - rule) , views the rights of an individual to self-determination.

The definition of autonomy is the ability of an individual to make a rational, uninfluenced decision.

The patient has the right to refuse or choose their treatment.

Informed consent in ethics usually refers to the idea that a person must be fully informed about and understand the potential benefits and risks of their choice of treatment.

2. Beneficence refers to actions that promote the well being of others.

In the medical context, this means that the health profressional should act in the best interests of patients and their families.

3. Non-maleficence: primum non nocere - first, do not harm.

The main or primary consideration is not to harm your patient.

The health professionals will not intentionally cause harm.

4. Justice means that all patients will be treated equally and fairly.

Justice concerns the distribution of scarce health resources, not just to the individual patient, but across the whole of society.

Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that looks specifically at maximizing utility for the benefit of the majority.

Ethical theories provide us with a framework to reason out our decisions.