In the field of healthcare, ethics plays a crucial role in guiding professionals to make decisions that are not only legally compliant but also morally sound. This guide aims to provide an overview of the ethical principles that underpin medical practice.

Key Ethical Principles

  1. Patient Autonomy: Respecting the patient's right to make informed decisions about their own healthcare.
  2. Beneficence: Acting to benefit the patient and minimizing harm.
  3. Non-maleficence: Avoiding harm to the patient.
  4. Justice: Ensuring fairness and equity in healthcare delivery.

Case Studies

To better understand these principles, let's look at some case studies:

  • Case 1: A patient requests an unnecessary surgery. The doctor must weigh the potential benefits against the risks and respect the patient's autonomy.
  • Case 2: A doctor discovers a patient has a terminal illness. The doctor must balance the duty to disclose the truth with the duty to protect the patient from unnecessary distress.

Resources

For further reading on ethics in medicine, we recommend visiting our Ethics in Healthcare page.

Medical Ethics