The document discusses the key pillars of medical ethics including consent, confidentiality, autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. It emphasizes that medical practice requires trust between doctors and patients, and that patients have a right to be informed about treatment options and outcomes. Doctors must seek consent for medical interventions and respect the confidentiality of medical information, except in certain legally mandated cases. The autonomy of the patient to make their own medical decisions is paramount.

1. •ETHICS
•PILLARS OF MEDICAL ETHICS
•CONSENT
•CONFIDENTIALITY

2. ETHICS
literally it means moral principles that govern a person's
behaviour or the conducting of an activity.

3. Medical Practice:
• successful medical practice requires a relationship of trust
between doctor and patient.
• The code of medical ethics provides a suitable framework
defining this relationship in professional, social and legal
contexts.
– This includes the expectation that:
– Patients will be consulted about decisions bearing on their treatment.
– They will be informed about their illness.
– They will be informed about the likely outcome of any treatment offered.
– The right to confidentiality will be respected.

4. Medical Practice
• capacity of a patient to take part in clinical descision
making should never be underestimated.
• always assume that a patient is able fully to understand
the nature of medical problem and its implications,
whatever their education level.

5. 5

6. Autonomy:
• The fundamental concept under medical ethic is
autonomy of patient.
• This means that patient has the right to decide his or her
own medical destiny.
• seeking consent for medical interventions, for research
and for teaching.
• only in case of minor or mentally disturbed person
consent may be sought from the patient's lawful parents
or guardians.

7. BENEFICENCE
7
All healthcare providers must strive to
improve their patient’s health, to do the
most good for the patient in every
situation.
But what is good for one patient may not
be good for another, so each situation
should be considered individually.

8. NONMALEFICENCE
8
“First, do no harm” is the bedrock of medical ethics.
In every situation, healthcare providers should avoid causing harm
to their patients.
You should also be aware of the doctrine of double effect, where a
treatment intended for good unintentionally causes harm. This
doctrine helps you make difficult decisions about whether actions
with double effects can be undertaken.

9. JUSTICE
9
The fourth principle demands that you
should try to be as fair as possible when
offering treatments to patients and
allocating scarce medical resources.
You should be able to justify your actions
in every situation.

10. Consent:
• patient's consent should be sought for any treatment.
• for a patient to give consent, sufficient accurate
information about the illness must be given to enable
them to decide whether the proposed treatment is both
acceptable and in their own interest.

11. Requirements on the doctor discussing an intervention
with a patient.
1 The procedure must be described.
2 Information about the risks and complications should be
given.
3 Associated risks from anaesthesia and drugs be
explained.
4 Alternative medical or surgical options should be
discussed.

12. setting the scene.
• Arrange a suitable quiet and pleasant environment for
discussion.
• The place should be free of interruptions.
• Make time for discussion. (do not be in hurry)
• Use simple language that patient can understand.
• If necessary and with patient's permission involve
relatives.
• If there is a language problem arrange for interpreter.
• At the end of discussion check that patient has understood.

13. legal requirements for consent:
• 1 patient must be mentally and legally competent to
give consent.
• 2 the patient must have been sufficiently well informed to
be able to give consent.
• 3 consent must have been given voluntarily, and not
under duress.

14. Confidentiality:
• All aspects of medical consultation are confidential.
• Situations in which confidentiality can be relaxed
are:
–when patient or his/her legal adviser allow it.
–When it is in patient's interest.
–if there is an overriding duty to society as a whole.
–in case of statutory disclosure.