Medical Ethics

Overview

4.6 out of 5 (77 Reviews)

Credits

2.00

Post Assessment Questions

47

Expiration Date

28 Feb 2026

Last Reviewed

1 Mar 2023

Estimated Time To Finish

120 Minutes


 
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Activity Description

Familiarity with ethical principles on a basic level is necessary to practice medicine. However, most healthcare providers are unable to explain how or why medical ethics principles have come to be and justify how they apply medical ethics principles in a systematic fashion. Many different medical ethics guidelines are available, such as from the American Medical Association (AMA), American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and the American College of Physicians (ACP). Given the lack of definitive ethical standards and premises, let alone a hierarchy or algorithm for prioritizing them, clinicians still face challenges in achieving satisfactory solutions to ethical challenges for themselves, their patients, and other parties involved. Because medical ethics issues are not limited to physicians, this article is written to be useful for both physicians and non-physicians. The neutral term "healthcare provider" is used in circumstances that apply to both physicians and non-physicians.

Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Describe the formation and functions of medical ethics principles.
  • Summarize how law, science, religion, and non-medical ethics disciplines affect the discipline of medical ethics.
  • Explain how to apply medical ethics principles when attempting to resolve a medical ethics dilemma.
  • Outline how the interprofessional team can work together to advance medical ethics and patient outcomes.

Disclosures

StatPearls requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. None of the planners of this educational activity have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

COMMERCIAL SUPPORT: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information


This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, and StatPearls, LLC. The Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University designates this activity for a maximum of 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity is reported to the following Maintenance of Certification (MOC) boards:
American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  • Hospital Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
American Board of Pathology
  • Medical Director
American Board of Pediatrics
  • General Pediatrics
  • Professionalism/Patient Safety/Other Skills

Instructions for Credit

  1. Register for the activity and create a StatPearls login.     
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content in the activity.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment.
  6. Obtain a certificate.

For information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board.

Disclaimer

Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls specifically disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be received in writing and a money-back guarantee is provided if not completely satisfied.

  • StatPearlsand and Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University reserve the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances. StatPearls andQuillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University will not be responsible for other expenses incurred by the participant in the unlikely event that the program is canceled.

Medium or Media Used:

  • Computer Requirements: Internet Access
  • E-mail Address

Equal Opportunity

  • StatPearls andQuillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Institutions. 

 

Media Usage Rights

The contributors and editors of StatPearls have attested that all associated media (images and video) have been legally cleared for use with this activity.  All copyrights are reserved.

    Reviews

    Patricia P. on 1/31/2021

    Darcey A. on 2/1/2022

    Guillermina H. on 10/4/2021

    Denise B. on 6/12/2021

    Kchina w. on 8/1/2021

    Chuong T. on 8/21/2021

    Dr P. on 8/31/2021

    Sharron P. on 9/8/2021

    Stephen w. on 9/28/2021

    Faisal A. on 10/3/2021

    Rola h. on 10/29/2021

    pamela n. on 12/3/2021

    Santiago C. on 12/9/2021

    Paul M. on 12/24/2021

    Asad M. on 1/3/2022

    Amelia G. on 1/12/2022

    No question on Ethics included in Questions bank.

    Farhat O. on 2/10/2022

    Ebony C. on 2/16/2022

    Sarah H. on 2/26/2022

    Michael M. on 3/18/2022

    Jeffrey N. on 4/3/2022

    jane S. on 4/8/2022

    Allyson H. on 5/4/2022

    Some questions wording was hard to understand, not all consistent with text. Unclear why there was a major focus on radiographers in the questions.

    Eric G. on 5/18/2022

    Very interesting topic

    Brian G. on 5/21/2022

    Ricardo H. on 6/15/2022

    Rachel W. on 6/18/2022

    Shannon j. on 6/26/2022

    Louis C. on 6/27/2022

    Amy D. on 6/27/2022

    Manuel T. on 8/8/2022

    Deborah Z. on 7/25/2022

    Harriette S. on 8/1/2022

    Fernando E. on 8/5/2022

    Dr J. on 8/6/2022

    Kara C. on 8/9/2022

    Dr. O. on 8/10/2022

    Elizabeth f. on 8/16/2022

    Richard M. on 8/23/2022

    The terms that are emphasized are not the most applicable to my practice, but the principles are.

    Robert V. on 8/29/2022

    Kelley L. on 9/3/2022

    April D. on 9/4/2022

    RODOLFO L. on 9/10/2022

    Laura A. on 9/11/2022

    Jody S. on 9/14/2022

    Justin C. on 9/20/2022

    There were 46 questions, many of which were not covered in the material.

    Michael P. on 9/26/2022

    Stacey E. on 9/30/2022

    Elizabeth T. on 10/12/2022

    Jennifer D. on 11/8/2022

    Teri N. on 11/11/2022

    Rayon S. on 11/15/2022

    Nicole M. on 11/18/2022

    David B. on 12/2/2022

    Liannette P. on 11/24/2022

    Kimlyn L. on 11/29/2022

    SUNDAY A. on 12/7/2022

    Migdonia D. on 12/2/2022

    Stacey g. on 12/4/2022

    Courtney D. on 12/4/2022

    Kathryn M. on 12/8/2022

    Angela K. on 12/9/2022

    Jacqueline W. on 12/14/2022

    long h. on 12/15/2022

    Sanjeev S. on 12/15/2022

    Jason H. on 12/15/2022

    Brooke L. on 12/30/2022

    Vektra C. on 12/26/2022

    Elisabeth B. on 1/20/2023

    Caitlin C. on 1/20/2023

    Nicole H. on 1/24/2023

    Skyler S. on 1/26/2023

    Lesly P. on 2/11/2023

    very interesting thanks

    Terrence P. on 2/16/2023

    Dong O. on 3/4/2023

    NISHA N. on 3/7/2023

    Michael M. on 3/19/2023

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