HU 245

Ethics in Medicine

In this week’s Discussion, you will explore how ethics applies to issues in medicine. Bioethics is a distinct subject that takes medical and biological issues and analyzes them using ethical reasoning and theory. The topics discussed in bioethics are varied but these issues impact your lives directly.

Confidentiality is both common sense and professional convention, per the Hippocratic Oath, in the sense “I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know” (Lasagna, 1964). It is an obligation not only of those who are called up to take the oath as a matter of course, but all healthcare professionals. 

Are there instances in which private medical information should be revealed to others in order to protect individuals or the public from harm? Please explain your position using ethical reasoning and theories.

Lasagna, L. (1964). “Hippocratic Oath—Modern Version.” WGGH Educational Foundation for PBS and NOVA Online. Retrieved June 2, 2015 from the NOVA site: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/hippocratic-oath-today.html

In addition to your posted answer, be sure to comment on at least two of your classmates’ post and participate regularly. Responses to others can come in many forms and can include the following:

·         Responses to the ideas or details of someone else’s responses.

·         Application of a concept from the reading to life or to the questions you’re asked to answer.

·         Assistance for a peer in understanding a concept from the reading. 

·         Sharing a story from work or your community that illustrates the reading.

·         Asking questions on points you need help understanding. 

·         An explanation of why you answered a question in a specific way.

·         Pointing out how different answers took the question in different directions/noting a pattern/suggesting an explanation.

·         Developing theories to explain patterns you see in the reading.

·         Summarizing aspects of the assigned reading and asking for help from your peers in figuring out how you would apply this concept in a real world situation.

** Please submit the reference.