medical ethics
Clinical moral principles
Medical ethics is the branch of ethics concerned with moral principles in healthcare and medicine.
It addresses questions like when to withhold treatment, how to obtain informed consent, who decides for incapacitated patients, and how to allocate scarce resources.
The field guides doctors, hospitals, and policymakers through decisions where medical capability and moral responsibility intersect: The medical ethics committee reviewed the case.
Independent decision-making capacity
- beneficenceActive desire to help
- deontologyMorality based on obligations
- utilitarianismGreatest-happiness moral theory
- casuistryApplying principles to particulars
Concern for others' distress
- empathySharing another's emotions
- patient-centeredPrioritizing individual care needs
- trustConfidence in another
- beneficenceActive desire to help
fiduciary duty · therapeutic relationship · professional boundaries · duty of care · healing · bedside manner · holistic care · dignity
Lack of purpose
- best interestWhat benefits someone most
- resource allocationAssigning available means strategically
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
- life supportSystems maintaining vital functions
end-of-life · rationing · conscientious objection · slippery slope · boundary crossing · dual loyalty · whistleblowing
Permission given with understanding
- voluntaryDone by choice
- capacityMaximum amount containable
- competenceAdequate ability to function
- disclosureAct of revealing information
decision-making · authorization · assent · right to refuse · withdrawal · mental capacity · cognitive ability · advance directive
Impartial treatment or ownership value
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- allocationDistribution of shares
- accessibilityEase of approach
- universal coverageInsurance for entire population
health disparities · social determinants · vulnerable populations · discrimination · rationing · human rights · underserved communities · healthcare access
Quality of protecting secrets
- HIPAAMedical privacy statute
- patient rightsLegal protections for care recipients
- health recordsDocumented patient history
- data protectionSecuring sensitive information
breach · disclosure · sensitive information · genetic privacy · need-to-know · privileged communication
autonomy
Independent decision-making capacity
- beneficenceActive desire to help
- deontologyMorality based on obligations
- utilitarianismGreatest-happiness moral theory
casuistry · consequentialism · Nuremberg Code · moral philosophy
compassion
Concern for others' distress
- empathySharing another's emotions
- patient-centeredPrioritizing individual care needs
- trustConfidence in another
beneficence · fiduciary duty · therapeutic relationship · professional boundaries · duty of care · healing · bedside manner · holistic care · dignity · advocacy
futility
Lack of purpose
- best interestWhat benefits someone most
- resource allocationAssigning available means strategically
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
life support · end-of-life · rationing · conscientious objection · slippery slope · boundary crossing · dual loyalty · whistleblowing
informed consent
Permission given with understanding
- voluntaryDone by choice
- capacityMaximum amount containable
- competenceAdequate ability to function
disclosure · decision-making · authorization · assent · right to refuse · withdrawal · mental capacity · cognitive ability · advance directive · proxy
equity
Impartial treatment or ownership value
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- allocationDistribution of shares
- accessibilityEase of approach
universal coverage · health disparities · social determinants · vulnerable populations · discrimination · rationing · human rights · underserved communities · healthcare access · solidarity
confidentiality
Quality of protecting secrets
- HIPAAMedical privacy statute
- patient rightsLegal protections for care recipients
- health recordsDocumented patient history
data protection · breach · disclosure · sensitive information · genetic privacy · need-to-know · privileged communication
- surgerysurgery, surgeon, surgeons, operation, incision
- Soviet medicinepolyclinics, socialist healthcare, free healthcare, centralized planning, health ministry
- medicinedoctor, doctors, hospital, surgery, treatment
- deathdead, deceased, corpse, mortality, demise
- rules & ethicshonor code, bylaws, guidelines, protocol, etiquette
- bioethicsgenetic engineering, beneficence, non-maleficence, physician-assisted death, human subjects
medicine, ethics, ethical, medical, medication, unethical, medicinal, medicate, medicated