1. Chapter 1 - Introduction to Law and Ethics
PowerPoint to accompany Law & Ethics For Medical Careers Fifth Edition Judson · Harrison
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Law and Ethics
McGraw-Hill © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

2. Introduction to Law & Ethics
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Explain why knowledge of law and ethics is important to health care providers.
Recognize the importance of professional codes of ethics.
Distinguish among law, ethics, bioethics, etiquette, and protocol.
Define moral values and explain how they relate to law, ethics, and etiquette.
Describe at least three bioethical issues of concern for your chosen profession.
McGraw-Hill © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

3. Why Study Law & Ethics? Two main reasons:
Help you to perform at a professional level.
Help you to avoid law suits.
Other reasons:
Learn about rights, responsibilities, and concerns of health care consumers.
Learn about legal and ethical issues facing society, patients, and health care providers.
Learn about the impact of rising costs on law and ethics of health care delivery.
McGraw-Hill © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

4. Law and Ethics Compared
Principles, standards, a guide of conduct
Elevates standards of competence, builds values and ideals
Punishable by suspension or eviction from medical associations
Law
Set of governing rules
Minimum standards established to protect the public
Punishable by fines, imprisonment, revocation of license
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5. Ethics and Etiquette Compared
Standards of behavior that reflect right or wrong
May be over and above that which is legal
Are derived from moral values
Etiquette
Standards of behavior that reflect good manners
Protocols are the standards of etiquette in your place of employment
McGraw-Hill © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

6. Professional Code of Ethics
Most health care professions have a professional association that has developed a code of ethics.
These codes of ethics govern the behavior of members and increase the level of competence and standards of care within the group.
McGraw-Hill © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

7. Bioethics
The study of the ethical implications of biological research methods and results, especially in medicine.
Examples include organ transplant, reproductive technologies, and animal research.
No simple answers to the ethical questions posed in bioethics.
McGraw-Hill © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

8. Ethics Committees
Hospitals and other health care organizations have ethics committees.
Members include doctors, nurses, social workers, and a bioethicist.
Help to clarify the difficult issues and look at possible alternatives.
May help with conflict resolution.
Are not policy making committees.
McGraw-Hill © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

9. Successful Healthcare Practitioner Qualities
The three “C’s” of success
Courtesy-good manners.
Compassion-identifying with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives (not sympathy).
Common Sense-sound practical judgment.
But, it also takes people skills, technical skills, and critical thinking skills.
McGraw-Hill © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

10. People Skills Relaxed attitude when meeting people.
An understanding of and empathy for others.
Good communication skills-writing, speaking, and especially listening.
Patience in dealing with others.
Ability to work as a member of the team.
Tact.
The ability to impart information clearly and accurately.
The ability to leave private concerns at home.
Trustworthiness and a sense of responsibility.
McGraw-Hill © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

11. Technical Skills Proficiency in English, science, and math.
Willingness to learn new skills.
Computer literacy.
Aptitude for working with the hands.
Able to document well.
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12. Critical Thinking Skills
The ability to solve problems.
Steps for successful critical thinking.
Identify and clarify the problem.
Gather information.
Evaluate the evidence.
Consider alternatives and implications.
Choose and implement the best alternative.
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13. Ethics Guide Discussion
If you are a student who has not been in the workplace yet, what do you think will be your biggest ethical issue when you do start working?
If you have been in the workplace, what ethical issues have you dealt with?
What if you are asked to do something unethical, or illegal, what will you do? For example, what if you learn that the office you work in is billing for unnecessary procedures?
You get fired from your health care job because you won’t do something unethical. How will you explain the problem when you go looking for another job?
McGraw-Hill © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved