Chapter 7 provides knowledge of Ethics. In this chapter, students will be able to understand: Define ethics and bioethics; distinguish between professional, legal, and moral accountability; outline strategies to use to resolve ethical conflicts; describe the role of ethical tests in resolving ethical dilemmas in health care; discuss specific prehospital ethical issues, including allocation of resources, decisions surrounding resuscitation, confidentiality, and consent; identify ethical dilemmas that may occur related to care in futile situations, obligation to provide care, patient advocacy, and the paramedic’s role as physician extender. | 9/10/2012 1 Chapter 7 Ethics 2 Learning Objectives • Define ethics and bioethics. • Distinguish between professional, legal, and moral accountability. • Outline strategies to use to resolve ethical conflicts. • Describe the role of ethical tests in resolving ethical dilemmas in health care. 3 Copyright © 2013 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company 1 9/10/2012 Learning Objectives • Discuss specific prehospital ethical issues, including allocation of resources, decisions surrounding resuscitation, confidentiality, and consent. • Identify ethical dilemmas that may occur related to care in futile situations, obligation to provide care, patient advocacy, and the paramedic’s role as physician extender. 4 Ethics Overview • Ethics – Right/wrong – Duty/obligation – Principles/values – Character – Honorable actions designed with expected conformity – Decisions based on moral judgment appraisals, responsibility on individual 5 Ethics Overview • Morals – Social standards, customs – Right, wrong in practice • Unethical – Conduct fails to conform to moral principle, values, standards 6 Copyright © 2013 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company 2 9/10/2012 Ethics Overview • Bioethics – Basis laid by ancient Greek philosophers – Questions of ethics, virtue, how one should live – Systemic study of moral dimensions – Moral vision – Decision conduct – Policies of life sciences, health care – Variety of ethical methodologies, interdisciplinary settings 7 Ethics Overview • Ethical choices – Made instinctively – Personal beliefs, commitments, habits • Professional codes – Collective wisdom of group – EMT code of ethics – Principles of medical ethics of American Medical Association 8 Ethics Overview • Personal code – Principles of proper conduct – Assist one with moral choices – Critical reflection of one’s life – Consider professional, legal, moral responsibility 9 Copyright © 2013 by Jones & Bartlett .
