Question

Choose one of the basic principles of medical ethics and explain why it is more important than the others.

Answer 1

There are four Basic principles of medical ethics. each addresses a value that arises in interactions between providers and patients. the principles address the issue of fairness, honesty and respect for fellow human beings.

The principles are:

• Autonomy
• Beneficence
• Nonmalefience
• justice

Ethical standards may promote the values of cooperation and collaborative work. finally ethical standards in medical care promote other important moral and social values such as responsibility, human rights, patient's welfare, compliance with the law, SMC's regulations and patient's safety.

Importance of medical ethics:

• Ethical principles such as respect for persons, informed consent and confidentiality are basic to the physician patient relationship
• Application of these principles in specific situations is often problems, since physicians, patient's their family members and other healthcare personnel may diagree about what is right way to act in a situation
• The study of ethics prepare medical proffesionals to recognize difficult situations and to deal with them in a rational and principle manner

THE MOST IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE OF MEDICAL ETHICS IS AUTONOMY

Requires that the patient have autonomy of thought, intention, and action when making decisions regarding health care. procedures, therefore, the decision making process must be free of coercion or coaxing. in order for a patient to make fully informed decision, she/he must understand all risks and benefits of the procedure and the likelihood of success and may involve high emotions, it is difficult to expect patients to be operating under fully informed consent.

• Patient has freedom of thought, intention and action when making decisions regarding health care procedures
• For a patient to make a fully informed decision. she or he must understand all risks and benefits of the procedures and the likelihood of success
• Usually expressed as the right of competent adults to make informed decisions about their own medical care. the principle underlies the requirement to seek the consent or informed agreement of the patient before any investigation or treatment takeplace