THE ETHICAL CANARY:

Science, Society and the Human Spirit

BAUTISTA, CHRISTINE S.

ETHICS
that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions

CONSENT
the principle that a person must give their permission before they receive any type of medical treatment. Consent is required from a patient regardless of the type of treatment being undertaken, from a blood test to an organ donation

CAPACITY
ability of subjects to make health care decisions; primarily decisions to consent to or refuse treatment

DECISIONAL CAPACITY abilities related to decisions

MENTAL COMPETENCE state in which a patient's decision-making capacities are sufficiently intact for their decisions to be honored

ELEMENTS OF CAPACITY
UNDERSTANDING The patient appreciates the following information regarding medical care: - medical diagnosis and prognosis - nature of the recommended care - alternative courses of care - risks, benefits, and consequences of each alternative

ELEMENTS OF CAPACITY
( C O N T. )

REASONING The patient uses logical reasoning to make a decision CHOICE The patient makes and communicates a choice regarding medical treatment/course of action. VALUES The patient makes decisions that are consistent with his/her values and goals.

INFORMED CONSENT
to promote and protect the autonomy of health care subjects a legal procedure to ensure that a patient, client, and research participants are aware of all the potential risks and costs involved in a treatment or procedure. The

elements of informed consent include informing the client of the nature of the
treatment, possible alternative treatments, and the potential risks and benefits of the treatment. In order for informed consent to be considered valid, the client must be

competent and the consent should be given voluntarily.

ELEMENTS OF INFORMED CONSENT

Competence the ability for the patient to understand and make decisions. Assessing patient competence in making autonomous decisions will be introduced during Brain, Mind, and Behavior. Disclosure the doctor shares information and advice that are necessary for the patient to make an informed decision about medical treatment. Physicians should share:
the nature of the proposed intervention(s) expected benefits, risks, and likely consequences of proposed action (including emotional and social consequences) alternatives to the proposed intervention along with the benefits, risks, and likely consequences (alternatives that other reasonable physicians would recommend) recommendations, opinions, and advice. Physician recommendation and advice are often essential for patients to make sound decisions.

ELEMENTS OF INFORMED CONSENT ( C O N T )

Understanding the patient not only receives the information, but must also understand the implications of what the doctor has shared. It is important to remember that patients are often in emotional states that limit or impair understanding and rational decision-making so it is the doctors duty to facilitate this understanding. Voluntariness the patient makes the decision while free of coercion, persuasion, or manipulation Consent the patient agrees to participate in the discussed treatment plans and gives consent for necessary procedures

AUTONOMY
personal rule of the self that is free from both controlling interferences by others and from personal limitations that prevent meaningful choice. Autonomous individuals act intentionally, with understanding, and without controlling influences

BENEFICENCE
Is an action done for the benefit of others. Beneficent actions can be taken to help prevent or

remove harms or to simply improve the situation of

others.

NONMALEFICENCE
to do no harm.

JUSTICE
Justice concerns what islegally right or wrong. Ideally, justice is ethical, and one assumes that doing what is

ethical is legal. Justice cares about peoples rights,

and righting wrongs when those rights are violated.