Year GEP 1 : Ethics
- Dr Miran Epstein
- m.epstein@qmul.ac.uk
Introduction
The Module on Ethics will consider:
- Moral Theories
- A Sociological-Historical Approach to Medical Ethics
- Consent
- Confidentiality
- Medical Science in its Ethical, Legal and Social Context
- Principles of Ethics in research involving Humans: The Declaration of Helsinki
- Patient lifestyle and responsibility
Sessions
Lecture: Moral Theories
- Define medical ethics, and outline the basic principles of the GMC Good Medical Practice.
- Understand the difference between 'ethical' and 'moral'.
- Understand basic concepts of philosophical ethics.
- Describe different moral theories, and be able to apply them to different situations.
- Explain the importance of moral arguments and their limitations.
Lecture: A Sociological-Historical Approach to Medical Ethics
- Describe the official history of our medical ethics.
- Describe some unorthodox historical accounts of our medical ethics.
- Understand the explanatory power as well as shortcomings of the aforementioned historical theories and narratives.
- Offer a theory that can overcome the problems of the existing historiography.
- Understand the importance of getting the history of our medical ethics correct, especially vis-a-vis its possible moral implications.
- Demonstrate a precise knowledge of the complaints procedure
- Apply and critically analyse ethical and legal theory to ethico-legal dilemmas/issues encountered in professional practice.
- Offer leadership in ethical and legal matters in clinical practice.
- Provide education and supervision for colleagues and students in relation to ethical and legal matters.
Lecture: Consent
- Outline the legal implications of a failure to obtain valid consent when such consent should be obtained.
- Describe the acceptable legal standard of the information that should be offered to patients in the UK when obtaining valid consent.
- Compare the local standard to acceptable standards elsewhere of information that should be offered to patients.
- Articulate the rights of competent patients as regards refusal of medical interventions.
- Specify when consent may not or should not be obtained and how one should proceed in such cases.
Lecture: Confidentiality
Lecture: Medical Science in its Ethical, Legal and Social Context
- Understand the biological basis for assisted reproductive technologies and embryo development
- Summarise the legal framework of IVF and embryo research in the UK
- Discuss conflicting opinions on the justification for the generation and use of human embryos for research
- Identify ethical issues surrounding the use of human embryos for research and treatment
- Consider the religious views of patients who seek IVF and other fertility treatments
- Access the new embryo ethics teaching website and give feedback on its utility
Lecture: Truth Telling
- Explain in what respects truth-telling is important both to patient and doctor/student.
- Give classical justifications for and against deception and assess the strength and weaknesses of both.
- Relate personal experience of deception to the concepts of rights and corresponding 'strict' duties and to the moral impropriety of professional deception.
- Describe circumstances within healthcare in which it would be appropriate to be 'economical' with the truth.
- Specify the moral and legal problems of respecting a patient's right not to be told the truth.
Lecture: Patient Lifestyle and Responsibility
- Provide the major arguments supporting denial of NHS treatment from those condition was caused by their lifestyle.
- Provide the major arguments against denial of NHS treatment from such patients.
- Understand the social context of the question.
- Understand implications of the debate on the role of the doctor.
Lecture: Principles of Ethics in Research Involving Humans: The Declaration of Helsinki
