Introduction to Medical Ethics and Professionalism Lec. 1.ppt

Introduction to ethics and professionalism is one of the concepts in ethics and legal issues in public health

1. MEDICAL ETHICS AND
PROFESSIONALISM
TUTOR PRISCILLA.
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2. INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL
ETHICS
Teaching/Learning objectives;
By the end of the session, the learner(s) should be
able to;
1. Define the different terms in medical ethics.
2. Explain the importance of studying medical
ethics.
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3. Definition of Terms
Ethics:
A specialized area of philosophy whose origins can be
traced to ancient Greece.
Ethics are general declarations of what is right or wrong
and of what aught to be.
They are usually presented as systems of value behaviors
and beliefs.
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4. Theyservethepurposeofgoverningconductto
ensuretheprotectionofanindividual’srights.
Ethics:usuallyreferstothepractices,beliefs,and
standardsofbehaviorofaparticulargroupsuchas
nurses.Italsoreferstothemethodofinquirythat
assistspeopletounderstoodthemoralityof
humanbehavior(studyofmorality)
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5. Cont’d
Medical Ethics, are general ethics applied
to the practice of all aspects of health care.
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6. Definition of Terms cont’d
Code of Ethics:
Isawrittenlistofaprofession’svaluesandstandardsof
conduct.
Itisaframeworkfordecisionmakingbytheprofession
andshouldbeorientedtowardtheday-to-day
decisionsmadebymembersoftheprofession.
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7. Definition of Terms cont’d
Values:
Are ideals or concepts that give meaning to the
individual’s life.
Values are usually derived from societal norms, religion
and family orientation.
They serve as the framework for making decisions and
taking certain actions in everyday life.
They are usually notwritten down.
It is necessary to undertake a value clarification process
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8. Definition of Terms cont’d
Value Conflicts:
Can force an individual to select a higher priority value over
a lower one e.g. a HCP who values both his/her career
and his/her family may be forced to decide between going
to work and staying at home with a sick relative etc.
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9. value clarification process
Requires that the Health Care Provider (HCP):
Identify,
assess,
evaluate
Then determines a set of personal values
Find out how the priority values are to be ranked.
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10. Helping clients identifying their values
List alternatives
Examine possible consequences of choices
Choose freely
Feel good about the choice
Affirm the choice
Act on the choice
Act with a pattern
Remember: never impose your personal values
never offer an opinion
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11. Definition of Terms cont’d
Morals:
Thefundamentalstandardsofrightandwrongthatanindividual
learnsandinternalizes,usuallyintheearlystagesofchildhood
development.
Moralbehaviorisusuallyinaccordancewithagroup’sbeliefs,
norms,customsortraditions/culture.
Morals:issimilartoethicsandmanypeopleusethetwowards
interchangeably(closelyassociatedwiththeconceptofethics)
DerivedfromtheLatin“mores”,meanscustomorhabit.
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12. Comparison of morals and ethics
Morals
Principles and rules of right
conduct
Private, and personal
Commitment to principles
and values is usually
defended in daily life
Pertain to an individual‘s
character
Ethics
Formal responding process
used to determine right
conduct
Professionally and publicly
stated
Inquiry or study of principles
and values
Process of questioning, and
perhaps changing, one’s
morals
Speaks to relationships
between human beings
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13. Definition of Terms cont’d
Rights:
Somethingowedtoanindividualaccordingtojustclaims,legal
guaranteesormoralandethicalprinciples.
Manytimes,individualstendtoclaimthingsasrights,whenwhat
theyareclaimingarereallyprivileges,concessionsor
freedoms.
Inordertoavoidconfusioninclaims,rightsareclassifiedinthe
followingthreetypes:
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14. i)Welfare rights(also called legal rights)
are based on a legal entitlement to some good or benefit.
Those rights are guaranteed by law e.g. The Nurses Act,
Pharmacy Act etc.
A violation of such rights can be punished under the legal
systems e.g. all rightly trained and certified HCPs have a
right to professional registration and practice, regardless of
race, sexual preferences or religion.
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15. ii)Ethical rights(also called moral rights) are based
on a moral or ethical principle.
Ethical rights do not usually need to have the
power of law in order to be enforced.
However, popular acceptance of ethical rights can
give them the force of a legal right.
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16. iii)Optional rights: These are rights that are based on
a fundamental belief in the dignity and freedom of
human beings. Optional rights give individuals
freedom of choice and the right to live their lives as
they choose, but within a given set of prescribed
boundaries e.g. people may wear whatever clothes
they choose, as long as they wear some type of
clothing and don’t walk naked.
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17. Definition of Terms cont’d
iii)In the USA and other democratic countries, people may
choose to live a gay/lesbian live, as long as they are not
forced into it or force others into it.
t
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18. The goals of laws are preserving the species and promoting
peaceful and productive interactions between individuals or
groups of individuals by preventing the actions of one
citizen from infringing on the rights of another.
The two important aspects of laws are that;
they are enforceable through some type of police force,
and
they should be applied equally to all persons.
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19. Definition of Terms cont’d
Ethical Dilemma/Challenge:
Is a situation that requires an individual to make a choice between
two equally unfavorable alternatives. One’s obligations and
another person’s rights usually form the basis of the dilemma/
challenge. By the very nature of the ethical dilemma, there
can be no simple correct solution and whatever decision is
made, often must be defended by the decision maker, against
those who disagree with it.
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20. Definition of Terms cont’d
Obligations:
Are demands made upon an individual, a profession, a society or
government to fulfill and honor the rights of others.
Obligations are often divided into two categories:
i)Legal obligations–are those which have become formal
statements of law and are enforceable under the law e.g. a
HCP has a legal obligation to provide safe and adequate
care for patients/clients under his/her care.
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21. ii)Moral obligations –Are those based on moral or ethical
principles but are not enforceable under the law e.g. in most
countries no legal obligation exist for a HCP on a
holiday/personal trip to stop and help a road traffic accident
victim, but it is an ethical/moral obligation to help such a
victim.
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22. Obligations:
i.What are the ethical obligations of a health care
practitioner?
ii.What are Standards of professional practice of a
health care practitioner?
iii.What are the professional etiquette of a health care
practitioner?
iv.List the legal obligations of a health care
practitioner?
v.What are the General obligations of a health care
practitioner?
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23. Ethical obligations
Respect of the code of ethics
Respect for human rights
Respect of persons
Protection of privacy
Integrity
Access to health care services
Respect of colleagues
Safeguard patients confidences
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24. Obligation to the sick
Shallpreserveabsoluteconfidentialityonallhe/sheknowsaboutthe
patientevenafterthepatienthasdied.
Shallgiveemergencycareasahumanitariandutyunlesshe/sheisassured
thatothersarewillingandabletogivesuchcare.
Shallalwaysbearinmindtheobligationofpreservinglife.
Shallowehispatientsloyaltyandalltheresourcesofhisscience.Whatever
anexaminationortreatmentisbeyondtheHCP’scapacity,shouldsummon
orrefertoanotherwhohasthenecessaryability.
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25. Obligations to colleagues.
Shall behave towards his/her colleagues as he would
have them behave towards him
Shall not entice patients from his/her colleagues
Shall observe the principles in the Geneva
declaration(oath)
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26. Legal obligations
Follow the code of health care ethics and principle of medical
ethics
Observe the constitution of Uganda
Follow the formal ways of delegation of care for patients under
your care after assessing that the person being delegated is
competent enough
HCP shall all the times comply with the norms and standard, of
professional conduct, care and competence generally accepted by
the profession.
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27. Standards of professional practice
According to the international code of health care ethics, a
practioner shall,
i.Always maintain the highest standards of professional conduct
ii.Not permit motives of profit to influence the free and
independent exercise of professional judgment on behalf of
patients
iii.In all types of nursing practice, be dedicated to providing
competent medical services in full technical and moral
independence, with compassion and respect for human dignity.
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28. Cont’d

Deal honestly with patients and colleagues and strive to
expose those deficient in character or competence, or who
engage in fraud or deception
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29. Question
What is the Importance of observing ethics in
health care practice.
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30. Importance of observing ethics in
practice
i.Ethicsisintendedtoprotectanddefendthehumandignityandrightsof
patients
ii.Guidesnursingpractice
iii.Helpsustounderstandthepatient’sbehaviour
iv.Theremanyin-comingmedical/Nursingchallengese.glegalsuits/medical
legalsuits,manipulationofscienceandgenetics,euthanasia,thatnurses
andotherhealthcareprovidersneedtoaddress
v.Helpsustoknowhowtoconductourselves
vi.Helpsustoknowhowtohandlestudent.
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31. Importance of nursing ethics to
trainees.
The teaching/learning of nursing ethics to students aims at
instilling in students knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to
guide their conduct.
Helps students in decision making as practicing medical
personnel
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32. Assignment
1.Withclearandcontemporaryexamples,discussthe
variousprinciplesofethics.
2.Identifypracticesatyourworkplaceswhichseem
unethical.
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