Core Principles of Medical Ethics
1. Autonomy
o Definition: Respecting the patient's right to make informed decisions about
their own healthcare.
o Application: Ensure informed consent is obtained, respect patients' wishes
even if they decline recommended treatments, and provide all necessary
information for decision-making.
o Limits: Autonomy may be limited in cases where patients lack capacity, such
as minors or individuals with severe cognitive impairment, and when their
decisions put others at significant risk (e.g., communicable diseases).
2. Beneficence
o Definition: The obligation to act in the patient's best interest and promote
their well-being.
o Application: Provide treatments that benefit the patient, prevent harm, and
oFer compassionate care.
o Challenges: Balancing beneficence with other principles, especially when a
patient’s preferred choice does not align with what the provider believes is
beneficial.
3. Nonmaleficence
o Definition: “Do no harm” — avoid causing unnecessary harm or suFering to
the patient.
o Application: Minimize risks associated with treatments, avoid interventions
with likely negative outcomes, and weigh the risks and benefits of all
procedures.
o Conflicts: Sometimes, achieving a beneficial outcome (beneficence)
requires interventions that carry some risk or harm (nonmaleficence), such
as surgery or chemotherapy.
4. Justice
o Definition: Fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources, and
treating all patients with impartiality and respect.
o Application: Ensure equal access to care regardless of socioeconomic
status, race, or other factors; prioritize care based on medical need.
o Challenges: Resource allocation, balancing individual needs against those
of the population, and addressing disparities in healthcare access.
Informed Consent
1. Definition: A process by which a patient voluntarily agrees to a proposed treatment
after understanding its risks, benefits, and alternatives.
2. Elements of Valid Consent: Disclosure of information, comprehension by the
patient, voluntary decision-making, and the patient’s capacity to make the decision.
3. Challenges: Ensuring adequate understanding, obtaining consent from minors or
those with limited decision-making capacity, and handling situations where patients
refuse consent.
Confidentiality
1. Definition: The obligation to keep patient information private unless the patient
gives permission to share it.
2. Limits to Confidentiality: May be breached in cases where non-disclosure poses
harm to the patient or others, such as in cases of suicidal ideation, child abuse,
infectious disease reporting, or risk of violence.
3. HIPAA Regulations: Healthcare providers must comply with privacy laws, such as
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S., to
protect patients' personal health information.