1. The integral components of decision making in medical ethics are:
- Autonomy: This refers to the respect for an individual's right to make their own decisions about their healthcare. It involves providing the necessary information and allowing patients to make informed choices based on their values and preferences.
- Beneficence: This principle relates to the duty to act in the best interest of the patient and promote their well-being. It involves taking actions that provide benefits to the patient, such as providing appropriate and effective medical interventions.
- Nonmaleficence: This principle emphasizes the obligation to do no harm to the patient. It involves avoiding actions that could cause unnecessary harm or suffering to the patient, and minimizing risks associated with medical interventions.
- Justice: This principle focuses on fairness and equity in the distribution of healthcare resources. It involves treating patients impartially and ensuring that healthcare resources are allocated in a just and equitable manner.
2. The Utilitarian theory was described by philosophers such as Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Utilitarianism is a consequentialist ethical theory that states that the moral worth of an action is determined by its overall utility or the amount of happiness or pleasure it produces for the greatest number of people.
3. The four conditions used in the principle of double effect to assess the proportionality of good and evil in an action are:
- The nature of the act itself must be morally good or neutral.
- The intention behind the act must be morally good, aiming at the good effect and not the evil effect.
- The good effect must not be a direct result of the evil effect.
- The good effect must outweigh the evil effect in terms of proportionality.
4. Beneficence and nonmaleficence are important principles for imaging professionals because they guide their actions to ensure patient well-being and safety.
Beneficence in imaging services involves providing accurate and timely diagnostic information to aid in patient treatment and care. It focuses on the imaging professional's responsibility to act in the best interest of the patient, seeking to promote their health and well-being.
Nonmaleficence, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of avoiding harm or potential harm to the patient. Imaging professionals must ensure patient safety by following proper protocols, minimizing radiation exposure, and using appropriate imaging techniques to prevent unnecessary harm or adverse effects.
The key difference between beneficence and nonmaleficence is that beneficence focuses on actively doing good, while nonmaleficence focuses on avoiding harm.
5. Medical indications involving the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence in imaging include:
- Choosing the most appropriate imaging modality or technique that will provide accurate diagnostic information with the least risk to the patient.
- Ensuring proper patient positioning and technique during imaging procedures to minimize discomfort and potential harm.
- Using appropriate radiation shielding and dose reduction strategies to minimize the radiation dose to the patient.
- Assessing the risks and benefits of contrast media administration and ensuring its appropriate use, considering potential allergies or adverse reactions.
6. Autonomy refers to an individual's right to make decisions about their own healthcare based on their values, beliefs, and personal preferences. In the context of medical ethics, autonomy involves respecting and supporting a patient's right to make informed decisions about their treatment options, even if those decisions differ from the healthcare provider's recommendations.
7. The importance of doing good and avoiding harm can vary depending on the ethical framework one adopts. However, in healthcare ethics, both are considered important. The principle of beneficence highlights the importance of doing good and promoting the well-being of the patient, while the principle of nonmaleficence emphasizes the need to avoid harm or minimize potential harm to the patient.
The balance between the two principles may vary in different situations, and ethical decision-making often involves carefully weighing the potential benefits against the risks and potential harm. The relative importance of doing good and avoiding harm may depend on factors such as the severity of the patient's condition, the available treatment options, and the values and preferences of the patient.
8. The patient exercises personal responsibility over the proportionality of beneficence and nonmaleficence involved in the imaging procedure through their informed consent. Informed consent is the process in which the patient is provided with relevant information about the imaging procedure, including its benefits, potential risks, and alternatives. The patient has the right to accept or refuse the procedure based on their understanding of the information provided.
By actively participating in the decision-making process, the patient can express their values and preferences, allowing the healthcare team to consider the balance between beneficence and nonmaleficence in light of the patient's unique circumstances.
9. An example of an act of beneficence in imaging services could be an imaging professional advocating for a patient to receive a more advanced imaging modality that provides better diagnostic information, even if it requires referring them to a different facility.
An example of an act of nonmaleficence in imaging services could be an imaging professional taking appropriate measures to minimize radiation exposure during a computed tomography (CT) scan by using lower radiation dose protocols and ensuring proper shielding.
10. The strongest action is nonmaleficence, or the avoidance of harm. Nonmaleficence is considered a stronger ethical principle as it emphasizes the importance of preventing harm and minimizing risks to the patient. Beneficence, on the other hand, is weaker and concerns the doing of good. While both principles are important, nonmaleficence takes precedence in situations where there is a conflict between doing good and avoiding harm.
