PRESENTATION FOR MAB MEDICARE CENTRE
CUSTOMER CARE TRAINING
BY: DR AKUAMOAH-BOATENG
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
 Introduction
 Objectives
 Main Ethical considerations
 Considerations
OBJECTIVES
 To be able to explain what Ethics is
 To be able to understand the
relationship between Ethics and Law
 To be able to appreciate the
implications of Unethical Practices
INTRODUCTION
 The MMC has provided the general framework of
principles and rules and behavior expected of all
employees;
 It serves as the standard against which professional
conduct will be judged in the event of dispute
INTRODUCTION cont’d
 There is also the Code of Conduct and
Disciplinary procedures and Patient’s
Charter
 It is therefore important for all
employees to familiarize themselves
with these documents
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
 Ethics – a generic term for various ways of
understanding and examining our moral
life. In health care provision, it relates to
standards of behavior.
 Morality – refers to norms about right and
wrong human conduct that are widely
shared and form a stable social consensus
 Ethical behavior is good behavior and
Ethical practice is good practice(Fletcher et
al, 2005)
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS cont’d
 The Law represents society’s judgment on
ethical standards. It also enforces sanctions
against unethical behavior
 Law detects bad conduct
 “the relationship between Ethics and Law is
reciprocal one. Law frames the setting
within which ethical choices may be
practically exercised but ethics frame the
limit within which law is voluntarily obeyed
and respected.”(BMA 2004)
HOW TO KNOW YOU ARE ACTING
ETHICALLY
You must be guided by these 4 principles (Beauchamp
& Childress, 2004)
 Autonomy – respect your patient/client as capable of
making informed choices
 Beneficence – do or promote the good of your
patient/client
 Non malfeasance – as far as possible do no harm to
your patient
 Justice – treat all patients equally and fairly
IMPLICATIONS OF UNETHICAL
PRACTICES
 Unethical behavior will not be tolerated. The
public demands accountability and there will be an
outcry
 GHS and the professional bodies will punish
unethical behaviors (condemnation, reprimand,
suspension, apology, withdrawal of license or
certificate to practice)
 Legal action (Civil or Criminal) by patients and
their relatives
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
 The era of Medical Paternalism is over so
medical decisions are subject to scrutiny by
the health care profession, courts,
theologians, philosophers/ethicists and the
public. Health care workers need to be more
knowledgeable and be prepared to provide
information to meet the needs of their
enlightened and well informed clients
 There is increasing awareness and insistence
by patients, clients and the public on their
rights
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
cont’d
 Work overload, poor facilities and inexperience are not
decencies in cases of clinical or ethical negligence
 There is the need for all staff of MMC to see
themselves as part of the team and therefore treat each
other with respect and appreciate their contribution
 There is the need for patient confidentiality and not to
under disclose patient information to any party under
any circumstances, unless under a court order
SOME MEDICO-LEGAL CONCERNS
 Staff indiscipline
 Poor quality of care
 Poor human relations (e.g. verbal assault)
 Falsification of records for undeserved financial
benefit
 Professional negligence
 Breach of confidentiality (trust)
 Imputing the professional competence and integrity of
a colleague
CONCLUSION
 MMC in consultation with GHS and the various
professional councils need to provide more
education and clear guidelines/protocols to health
care workers on common ethical and legal
challenges for them to behave ethically always
towards patients to minimize medico-legal
challenges
 There is the need for all staff to acquaint or
familiarize themselves with MAB Code of ethics,
Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures, and
the Patient’s Charter.
THANK YOU