PHLB09H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Kantian Ethics, Primum Non Nocere, Noble Eightfold Path
Document Summary
Non-maleficence (beneficence): the duty to do no harm. Truth (definition by physicians): something to conceal or reveal for the therapeutic good of the patient. Withholding information from a patient is not considered lying. Doctors have the capacity to mislead their patients by keeping important information about their diagnosis from them and by not making definitive and specific comments regarding their situation. (ie: not telling the whole truth) Lack of communication and fear (cid:862)the oppo(cid:396)tu(cid:374)ity to lea(cid:396)(cid:374) the t(cid:396)uth at (cid:449)hate(cid:448)e(cid:396) le(cid:448)el of detail the patie(cid:374)t desi(cid:396)es(cid:863) Auto(cid:374)o(cid:373)y: we (cid:373)ust respe(cid:272)t e(cid:448)eryo(cid:374)e"s autonomy (their rational capacity of self- determination: freedom to decide how to live and what can and cannot be done to their bodies. No duty to tell truth (cid:271)/(cid:272) patie(cid:374)ts (cid:272)a(cid:374)"t understand anyway. (cid:862)the (cid:449)hole t(cid:396)uth a(cid:374)d (cid:374)othi(cid:374)g (cid:271)ut the t(cid:396)uth(cid:863) = Chapter 4 textbook notes: respecting autonomy = respecting personal freedom (as lo(cid:374)g as their a(cid:272)tio(cid:374)s do(cid:374)"t i(cid:374)terfere (cid:449)ith the freedom that others have over themselves)
