Medical Ethics & Professionalism Flashcards

The four principles of biomedical ethics (Beauchamp and Childress) are:

Answer: Autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice

The four principles of biomedical ethics are autonomy (respect for patient decision-making), beneficence (doing good), non-maleficence (avoiding harm), and justice (fair distribution of resources and treatment).

A mentally competent adult patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion for religious reasons. The physician should:

Answer: Respect the patient's refusal and document it

A competent adult has the right to refuse any medical treatment, including life-saving interventions; the physician must respect this decision, document the informed refusal, and ensure the patient understands the consequences.

In UAE healthcare ethics, a physician who receives gifts from pharmaceutical companies must:

Answer: Disclose all gifts and avoid conflicts of interest

UAE professional codes of conduct require healthcare professionals to disclose all gifts from pharmaceutical or device companies and avoid any arrangement that creates a conflict of interest affecting patient care.

The principle of beneficence in medical ethics means:

Answer: Act in the patient's best interest and promote their well-being

Beneficence is the ethical duty to act in the best interests of the patient and actively promote their well-being, going beyond merely avoiding harm.

Which ethical principle is most relevant when allocating scarce medical resources during a pandemic?

Answer: Justice

Justice is the ethical principle governing fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources; during scarcity (e.g., ICU beds, ventilators), justice frameworks guide allocation decisions.

Disclosure of a terminal diagnosis to a patient is governed by the principle of:

Answer: Veracity (truth-telling) and respect for autonomy

Truth-telling (veracity) and respect for patient autonomy require that patients be informed of their diagnosis, including terminal conditions, so they can make informed decisions about their remaining life and care.