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Ethics and laws of medical practice

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Ethics and Laws of Medical Practice

Overview

Medical practice is governed by both ethical principles and legal frameworks that ensure patient safety, professional conduct, and public trust in healthcare systems.

Core Ethical Principles

Autonomy

  • Definition: Respect for patient self-determination and decision-making
  • Application: Informed consent, respecting patient choices
  • Limitations: Must be balanced with beneficence and non-maleficence

Beneficence

  • Definition: Acting in the best interest of the patient
  • Application: Providing beneficial treatments, promoting wellbeing
  • Clinical practice: Evidence-based medicine, patient-centered care

Non-maleficence

  • Definition: “Do no harm” - avoiding causing harm to patients
  • Application: Risk-benefit analysis, avoiding unnecessary interventions
  • Considerations: Treatment side effects, medical errors

Justice

  • Definition: Fair distribution of healthcare resources and benefits
  • Application: Equal access to care, fair triage systems
  • System level: Resource allocation, healthcare policy

Medical Professional Conduct

  • Licensure requirements
  • Professional standards of care
  • Scope of practice limitations
  • Continuing professional development

Patient Rights

  • Right to informed consent
  • Right to confidentiality and privacy
  • Right to access medical records
  • Right to refuse treatment
  • Duty of care to patients
  • Documentation standards
  • Mandatory reporting obligations
  • Professional liability

Ethical Dilemmas in Clinical Practice

End-of-Life Decisions

  • Advance directives and living wills
  • Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders
  • Palliative care vs. aggressive treatment
  • Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (jurisdiction dependent)

Confidentiality vs. Public Safety

  • Reporting infectious diseases
  • Disclosing risks to third parties
  • Tarasoff principle (duty to warn)
  • Professional boundaries

Resource Allocation

  • Triage in emergency situations
  • Organ transplantation prioritization
  • Cost-effective care decisions
  • Healthcare disparities

Professional-Patient Relationship

Trust and Communication

  • Building therapeutic alliance
  • Effective communication strategies
  • Cultural competence
  • Language barriers

Boundary Issues

  • Dual relationships
  • Accepting gifts
  • Social media boundaries
  • Personal relationships with patients

Medical Error Management

Ethical Approach

  • Full disclosure of errors
  • Apology and remediation
  • System improvement focus
  • Support for affected parties
  • Medical malpractice concepts
  • Standard of care definitions
  • Defensive medicine considerations
  • Quality improvement initiatives

Professional Integrity

Conflicts of Interest

  • Financial relationships with industry
  • Research funding disclosures
  • Referral patterns
  • Gift acceptance policies

Professional Development

  • Maintaining competence
  • Recognizing limitations
  • Seeking consultation
  • Lifelong learning commitments

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