Ethics glossary

Key terms, defined.

Autonomy Autonomy is a patient's right to make their own decisions about their body and their treatment. Beneficence Beneficence is the duty to act in the patient's best interests. Best interests Best interests is the test used to make a decision for someone who cannot make it themselves. Capacity Capacity is the ability to make a particular decision for yourself at the time it needs to be made. Confidentiality Confidentiality is a doctor's duty to keep what a patient tells them private. Deontology Deontology judges an action by whether it follows a moral duty, whatever the outcome. Doctrine of double effect The doctrine of double effect says an action with a good aim can be acceptable even if it has a harmful side effect that was foreseen but not intended. Duty of candour The duty of candour is the duty to be open and honest with patients when something goes wrong with their care. Four pillars of medical ethics The four pillars are autonomy, beneficence, non maleficence and justice. They are the framework most often used to think through an ethical problem in medicine. Gillick competence Gillick competence is the test for whether a child under 16 can consent to their own medical treatment. Informed consent Informed consent is a patient's agreement to a treatment, given freely, with capacity, and with the information they need. Justice Justice is the duty to treat patients fairly and to share limited resources fairly. Non maleficence Non maleficence is the duty to avoid harming patients, often summed up as "first, do no harm". Quality adjusted life years A quality adjusted life year, or QALY, is a measure that combines how long a treatment extends life with how good that life is. Sanctity of life Sanctity of life is the view that human life has value in itself and should be preserved. Utilitarianism Utilitarianism judges an action by its results. The right choice is the one that does the most good for the most people.