Ethics, Morality, Culture and Values

Ethics in Medical radiology and Imaging

Learning tasks

• By the end to the session the students will be able to;

Describe ethics, morality, culture and values

Definition of terms

Duty; That which one is required to perform by law or morality Patient; refers to a person who is sick with or being treated for an illness or injury or an individual receiving medical care

What is ethics

• Ethics; is a code or set of principles by which people seek to live their lives
• Essentially, ethics has to do with what we perceive to be right or wrong, good or bad

Medical ethics involve issues that may rise in treating individuals based on values, facts and logics Ethical decisions are as essential to patient care as clinical and technical ones Ethical decisions are as integral to patient care as clinical and technical ones.

Morality

• Morality; a set way of conducting oneself
• OR
• The quality of human acts by which we call them right or wrong, good or evil
• The standards that enable the people to live cooperatively in the group or society

Human action is right when it conforms with norms, rules or law of morality

One respects each and every basic goods or value of human existence

Among these goods; is human life itself, including health, bodily integrity, friendship, religion etc.

Why morality in health care

• Health is an essential need of a human person

Morality guides us to the satisfaction to that need

Culture

Culture can be defined as the way of life for an entire society including arts, beliefs and practices of population that are passed down from generation and generation Organization culture is in according to the shared values, beliefs, behavior, attitudes, experience built in work place symbols / assumptions, dressing code etc.

Culture development is driven by professionals who share similar values and objectives

Values

Values are a set of principles or standards of behavior; (in form of attitudes, feelings) they are regarded desirable important and held in high esteem by a particular society in which a person lives Personal values represent professional’s conceptions of what it means both to be and to act as a good professional

Ethics, Morality, Culture and Values

The values are in the form of goals, attitudes interests, feelings, conviction and beliefs embraced by professionals serve to guide their thinking, actions and interactions with patients The professional has an obligation to individuals, to society and the country, to profession, coworkers, workers in other field and to the self

Virtue is a type of behavior that reflects the person’s moral excellence (e.g. kindness)

• OR

The moral strength of human being’s will in fulfilling his duty The characters or quality that are considered morally good e.g. honest, kindness, obedience, fairness, good judgement)

VIRTUE ETHICS

Virtue ethics, focuses on the inherent character of a person rather than on the specific actions he or she performs. Some people see the different aspects of moral character, which we call virtues, (such as honesty, loyalty, kindness) as a suitable foundation for professional ethics.

Virtue ethics…. is about developing good character traits and being the kind of person who naturally acts morally

DEONTOLOGICAL ETHICS

Deontology comes from the Greek Deon, meaning “duty” and logos, meaning “word” This theory holds that we are obliged to do certain things, regardless of the consequences, simply because it is the right thing to do. Deontological theories concentrate on the act being performed. According to deontological theories, certain types of act are intrinsically good or bad, i.e. good or bad in themselves. These acts ought or ought not to be performed, irrespective of the consequences. There are many different ways of deciding what is the “right thing” Deontological ethics…..is focuses on following or fulfilling duties, regardless of the outcomes

TELEOLOGICAL ETHICS

This word comes from the Greek word telos, meaning “end” and logos meaning “word”. These theories differ completely from deontological ethics. They teach that actions are judged good or bad, right or wrong, on the basis of the consequences they produce. These theories hold that we ought always to act in the way that brings about the best consequences. It doesn’t matter what those acts are; the end justifies the means. All that matters for ethics is making the world a better place. How we achieve that is given secondary importance.

Teleological ethics…..based on judges actions based on the results they produce ,aiming for the best possible outcome

RELIGIOUS WORLD VIEW

Religious world view…..is shaped by faith in a higher power and religious teachings often offering guidance on moral and ethical behavior All religions promote certain moral values and virtues, and try to influence the moral behavior of their particular followers. There are considerable areas of ethical teaching that the worlds religions share in common. However, although they may be similar on a surface levAll religions promote certain moral values and virtues, and try to influence the moral behavior of their particular followers. There are considerable areas of ethical teaching that the worlds religions share in common. However, although they may be similar on a surface level, but when we dig deeper we find the fundamental beliefs and teachings are very different. If we try to claim that they are all true, then these differences become a real problem.

el, but when we dig deeper we find the fundamental beliefs and teachings are very different. If we try to claim that they are all true, then these differences become a real problem.

Ethics, Morality, Culture and Values

All religions promote certain moral values and virtues, and try to influence the moral behavior of their particular followers. There are considerable areas of ethical teaching that the worlds religions share in common. However, although they may be similar on a surface level, but when we dig deeper we find the fundamental beliefs and teachings are very different. If we try to claim that they are all true, then these differences become a real problem.

EXPLAIN PATIENTS PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

Patient Privacy:

This is all about respecting a person’s right to keep their health information private. It refers to how a patient's personal and medical information is handled and shared.The following are some of patients privacy and confidentiality issues Control Over Information: Patients have the right to decide who can access their personal health details. They can choose to share or withhold information, even from family members, unless there's a legal obligation to disclose it.

Protecting Personal Dignity: Privacy isn't just about medical records. It also applies to how care is given. For example, keeping a patient covered during a physical exam and ensuring conversations about their health occur in a private setting protects their privacy.

Legal Rights: In many countries, privacy is protected by laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the US or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe. These laws dictate how patient information should be collected, stored, and shared, and they give patients control over their data.

Confidentiality:

While privacy focuses on the patient's rights, confidentiality is the responsibility of healthcare providers to protect that information. Here’s more detail:

Maintaining Trust: Healthcare professionals are ethically bound to keep patient information confidential. This means they cannot share details about the patient’s diagnosis, treatment, or medical history without the patient's consent, except in specific situations like public health reporting (e.g., in cases of infectious diseases).

Exceptions to Confidentiality: There are limited situations where confidentiality might be broken, usually when there’s a risk to public safety or a legal obligation, such as:

• Reporting certain infectious diseases to public health authorities.
• In cases where a patient might harm themselves or others.
• Legal cases where a court requires disclosure.

Even in these situations, only the necessary information should be disclosed, and care is taken to minimize any impact on the patient's privacy.

Confidentiality in Practice:

Records Security: Medical records must be stored securely, whether in paper form or digitally, to prevent unauthorized access.

Discussion of Patient Information: Healthcare professionals should only discuss patient information with colleagues involved in the patient’s care, and these discussions should happen in private settings to avoid accidental breaches.

Informed Consent: Before sharing information with others, healthcare providers must explain why and how the information will be used, and patients should give their consent.

Why are Privacy and Confidentiality Important?

Building Trust: Patients are more likely to seek medical help and disclose personal information when they trust that their data will be handled securely and privately.

Protecting from Harm: Breaching confidentiality can expose patients to discrimination, embarrassment, or even harm. For example, a patient with a stigmatized condition may face social or employment discrimination if their information is leaked.

Legal and Ethical Standards: Healthcare providers must adhere to professional codes of ethics and legal standards. Violating confidentiality can result in disciplinary actions, loss of trust, and legal penalties for healthcare professionals and organizations.

Ethics, Morality, Culture and Values

In summary, privacy ensures that patients control who has access to their personal health information, while confidentiality places the responsibility on healthcare providers to protect that information and only share it when necessary or with permission. Both are essential to ensure ethical care and foster a trusting relationship between patients and healthcare professionals

Group work

Demonstrate procedures of maintaining patient confidentiality at radiology