Varkey, B. (2020).
Medical Principles and Practice,
30(1), 17–28.
https://doi.org/10.1159/000509119
Abstract
An overview of ethics and clinical ethics is presented in this review. The 4 main ethical principles, that is beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice, are defined and explained. Informed consent, truth-telling, and confidentiality spring from the principle of autonomy, and each of them is discussed. In patient care situations, not infrequently, there are conflicts between ethical principles (especially between beneficence and autonomy). A four-pronged systematic approach to ethical problem-solving and several illustrative cases of conflicts are presented. Comments following the cases highlight the ethical principles involved and clarify the resolution of these conflicts. A model for patient care, with caring as its central element, that integrates ethical aspects (intertwined with professionalism) with clinical and technical expertise desired of a physician is illustrated.
Highlights of the Study
- Main principles of ethics, that is beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice, are discussed.
- Autonomy is the basis for informed consent, truth-telling, and confidentiality
- A model to resolve conflicts when ethical principles collide is presented
- Cases that highlight ethical issues and their resolution are presented
- A patient care model that integrates ethics, professionalism, and cognitive and technical expertise is shown.
Here are some thoughts:
This article explores the ethical principles of clinical medicine, focusing on four core principles: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice. The article defines and explains each principle, using numerous illustrative cases to demonstrate how these principles might conflict in practice. Finally, the article concludes by discussing the importance of professionalism in clinical practice, emphasizing caring as the central element of the doctor-patient relationship.
