Ethical Principles Study Guide

Study Guide • Benefits – Ethical principle of doing good and acting in the best interest of patients. Example: Physician recommending the best treatment for a patient to improve their health. Code of ethics- Guidelines and principles that govern the conduct and behavior of professionals. Example: The American Medical Association’s Code of Medical Ethics outlines expectations for healthcare providers. Confidentiality- The principle related to knowledge gained from information obtained from the patient, this information is to be kept private and should be held in confidence. Example: A physician maintaining confidentiality about a patient's medical history. Consequentialism – ethical theory that focuses on the morality of actions based on their

Emotional intelligence – Ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions effectively and empathize with others’ feelings. Example: Radiation therapist using emotional intelligence to connect with patients’ emotions. Ethics – Study of moral principles that govern behavior, distinguishing between right and wrong. Example: Bioethics is a field of ethics that examines ethical issues in medicine and healthcare practices. Justice – Principle of fairness and equal treatment to all. Example: Equal access to healthcare for all individuals. Laws- Foundation of ethics. Legal concepts – Sum of rules and regulations which society is governed in any formal and legally binding manner. Legal ethics - Moral principles that guide the conduct of legal professionals; upholding legal ethics ensures integrity, professionalism, and fairness. Moral ethics- Encompass the beliefs, values, and principles that shape an individual’s sense of right and wrong conduct. Nonconsequentialism – Use rules of right and wrong for reasoning and problem- solving. Non-maleficence – The ethical principle directs healthcare professionals to avoid harmful actions to patients. Example: Hippocratic Oath: “First, do no