Identify medical ethics relevant to health care.

Identification should include

  • professional codes of ethics (e.g., physician, medical assistant, or nurse)
  • Patient's Bill of Rights
  • ethical principles
  • conflict of interest
  • end-of-life issues
  • treatment issues (i.e., against medical advice)
  • access to medical care.

Process/Skill Questions:

  • What is a definition of ethics?
  • What is the difference between law and ethics?
  • Who determines what constitutes ethical behavior in the healthcare field?
  • What ethical issues are important in the healthcare field?
  • What is DNR vs. DDNR? Who initiates this document?
  • What resources are available at the end of life?
  • Why might a patient refuse treatment?

Teacher Resource:

  • Who can refuse treatment?