MEDICAL ETHICS

By: Kinsey Hill

TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED

In recent years our technology in medicine has greatly improved.

The problem is, the more advanced we get, the more our ethics are challenged.

1st thing—What are ethics??

According to my little brother Zach- ethics are a type of bug.

Ethics are a set of moral principles that pertain to a form of conduct

Rapid Advancements in Medicine

oWho decides whether a patient lives

or dies?

•Where can the line be

drawn?

•Should doctors administer critical care without

consent?

Is stem cell re

search

ethical?

Is abortion ethical?

Questions of Importance

STOP. One Question at a time. First we’ll talk about research

MEDICAL RESEARCH

As I’ve said, medical research has recently become so advanced, that the ethics are being questioned.

I believe the best way to proceed with research is through a clinical trial1. Informed Consent2. Assessment of Risks and Benefits3. Selection of Subjects

You should note that research and patient care are NOT the same.Different levels of documentation of consent are needed for research

KEY CONSIDERATION THAT MUST BE REVIEWED #1

Informed Consent- The subject needs to

get complete information about the study

The information presented must be comprehensible (sometime masked in technical language)

Consent must be completely voluntary

KEY CONSIDERATION #2 Assessment of risks and benefits

The risk of any clinical trial should not outweigh its potential benefits

AKA Non-maleficence The obligation not to inflict harm intentionally

CONSIDERATION #3

Selection of Subjects The selection procedure should be

carried out fairly This means:

No biases No marginalizing (opting for prisoners)

TREATMENT Suppose one of your siblings was in some

kind of accident and the only way doctors can think to save him/her is some kind of experimental treatment

A.Have doctors wait for you to get to the hospital to give consent

B. The doctors flip a coin to see how they treat the patient

C. The doctors go ahead and give the treatment they think is best

Would you rather…

MEDICAL FUTILITY (AMA GUIDELINES)

A patient has the right to refuse treatment Physicians can refuse to provide treatment

they consider medically futile This guideline advises physicians against

non-medical value judgments that are inconsistent with patient autonomy. This basically means that doctors can’t judge you

on you on your beliefs. They should have nothing to do with your treatment.

OPINION

Doctors should be able to perform necessary emergency procedures without consent

Problems: People suing

Death Injury

Clinical Trials should be allowed

People think testing humans is unethical

Then comes the problem of paying people for letting doctors test on them

“IF PAST ERROR IS TO PREVENT US FROM PRESENT ACTION, SHOULD WE DO NOTHING AT ALL?”

The End

Credits: House Theme Song: Teardrop by: Massive Attack.