"One main purpose of medical ethics is to analyze the practice of clinical medicine and related scientific research."
The principle of doing what is best for the patient, and promoting their well-being.
Definition of Beneficence: This involves a general understanding of the meaning of beneficence and how it relates to medical ethics. It is the obligation to act for the benefit of others, typically with maximising the patient's good, as the primary goal.
Ethical Principles: Understanding the four ethical principles – autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice – and how they are used to guide medical decisions and actions.
The Relationship between Beneficence and Non-Maleficence: The principle of beneficence often involves balancing the positive benefits of medical interventions against any negative side effects or risks to the patient.
The Role of Healthcare Professionals: How healthcare professionals can maintain their obligation to beneficence in their practice and how their actions can promote the well-being of the patient.
Informed Consent: This is a critical aspect of medical ethics, as it relates to the patient's autonomy and ensures that the patient's welfare is protected.
Medical Research: Researchers have an ethical obligation to maximise the benefits and minimise the harm for study participants, known as the principle of beneficence.
Confidentiality and Privacy: Healthcare professionals must uphold patient confidentiality and privacy under the principle of beneficence and respect for patient autonomy.
End-of-life Care: Understanding the ethical issues surrounding the provision of end-of-life care in palliative care, including issues around balancing beneficence with the patient's autonomy.
Equity and Access: Healthcare providers are responsible for ensuring equitable access to care and support for all patients, part of the principle of beneficence.
Best Practices and Guidelines: Understanding guidelines and best practices related to medical ethics, including codes of ethics and ethical theories that offer important insights into the concept of beneficence.
Non-maleficence: Medical professionals should avoid causing harm or injury to the patients.
Paternalism: Medical professionals should take decisions for the patient in their best interest, even if it’s against the patient’s wishes.
Autonomy: Medical professionals should respect the patients’ right to make their own decisions for their care.
Informed consent: Medical professionals should inform patients about the potential benefits, risks, and alternatives of a treatment before seeking their consent.
Fidelity: Medical professionals should be loyal to their patients and act in their best interest.
Confidentiality: Medical professionals should keep any sensitive information about the patients to themselves.
Justice: Medical professionals should ensure the fair distribution of healthcare resources to all patients, regardless of their socio-economic background.
Beneficent deception: Medical professionals should use deception to benefit the patients’ health, without causing harm.
Advocacy: Medical professionals should promote the well-being of patients by advocating for their medical needs.
"These values include the respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice."
"It is important to note that these four values are not ranked in order of importance or relevance."
"Such tenets may allow doctors, care providers, and families to create a treatment plan and work towards the same common goal."
"A conflict may arise leading to the need for hierarchy in an ethical system, such that some moral elements overrule others with the purpose of applying the best moral judgment to a difficult medical situation."
"The Hippocratic Oath, The Declaration of Helsinki, and The Nuremberg Code are well-known and respected documents contributing to medical ethics."
"Roe v. Wade in 1973 marked an important development in medical ethics."
"The development of hemodialysis in the 1960s was an important milestone in the history of medical ethics."
"New techniques for gene editing aiming at treating, preventing and curing diseases raise important moral questions about their applications in medicine and treatments as well as societal impacts on future generations."
"These techniques remain controversial due to their association with eugenics."
"The focus remains on fair, balanced, and moral thinking across all cultural and religious backgrounds around the world."
"The field of medical ethics encompasses both practical application in clinical settings and scholarly work in philosophy, history, and sociology."
"Medical ethics encompasses beneficence, autonomy, and justice as they relate to conflicts such as euthanasia, patient confidentiality, informed consent, and conflicts of interest in healthcare."
"Different cultures implement ethical values differently, sometimes placing more emphasis on family values and downplaying the importance of autonomy."
"This leads to an increasing need for culturally sensitive physicians and ethical committees in hospitals and other healthcare settings."
"Medical ethics is particularly relevant in decisions regarding involuntary treatment and involuntary commitment."
"The Hippocratic Oath discusses basic principles for medical professionals and dates back to the fifth century BCE."
"The field of medical ethics encompasses practical application in clinical settings as well as scholarly work in philosophy."
"New techniques for gene editing raise important moral questions about their applications in medicine and treatments as well as societal impacts on future generations."
"Ethical committees play a role in addressing culturally sensitive issues and ethical conflicts in hospitals and other healthcare settings."