Ethics, Deontology and Professional Practice

Recommended Prerequisites

Before beginning this course, students must possess the following basic knowledge:

- Introduction to Medicine – History of medicine; Ethical and deontological basis of medical practice; Doctor-patient relationship and its evolution over time.

- Introduction to Scientific Research - Clinical trials: how to prepare their stages.

- Physiology - Mechanism of fertilization.

- Physiopathology - Mechanisms of pain and death.

- Information Technology – The ability to use the Internet to research for literature.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes to introduce new topics complemented by practical teaching  where groups of  students will be responsible for the preparation of debates  based on case-studies.

Learning Outcomes

Integrate the practice of medicine with the latest advances in science and ethical principles, codes and laws governing the profession.

The student should:

1. Know the importance of Ethics and Medical Ethics, and its evolution;

2. Be sensitized to the problems of medical activity related to Health, Illness, Life and Death;

3. Recognize the essential ethical principles that should inform the attitudes and medical practices;

4. Identify specific situations involving ethical evaluation, structuring concepts and justifying attitudes consistent with the principles seted;

5. Acquire ethical competence required to settle the ethical issues and make appropriate decisions regarding the situations of current medical practice;

6. Know the rules and legal coding standards of medical practice;

7. Know the rights and duties of patients, their families as well as of the physicians and other health professionals.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Medical Ethics, Deontology and Law

Free and informed consent

Living will

Medical Confidentiality

Databases

Disciplinary responsibility of doctors

Civil and Penal liability of doctors

The Portuguese Medical Association and its Deontological Code

Reporting crimes during the medical assistance

Ethics and scientific research

Clinical trial

Ethics Committees (EC)

Ethical issues in early life

Ethical issues at the end of life

Human Genome and genetic testing

Ethics and the mental patient

Palliative care. Pain

The use of cadavers in the teaching and scientific research.

Head Lecturer(s)

Isabel Margarida Figueiredo Silvestre

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Other: 15.0%
Exam: 85.0%

Bibliography

“Bioética” – Coordenação de L. Archer, J. Biscaia e W. Osswald. Editorial Verbo, 401 pág., 1996.  

 

“Ética e Cuidados de Saúde” – Coordenação de D. Serrão e Rui Nunes. Serviço de Bioética e Ética Médica da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, 1998.  

 

“Novos desafios à Bioética” – coordenação de L. Archer, J. Biscaia, W. Osswald e M. Renaud. Porto Editora, Lda, 2001.

 

“Um fio de Ética” – W. Osswald, edição do Instituto de Investigação e Formação Cardiovascular, Coimbra, 2001. 

 

“Bioética – Questões em Debate” – Coordenação de J. H. Silveira de Brito. Publicações da Faculdade de Filosofia - Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Braga, 2001.  

 

“Pareceres do Conselho Nacional de ética para as Ciências da Vida (C.N.E.C.V.)” – cnecv@sg.pcm.gov.pt.  

 

A Responsabilidade dos Médicos” – J. A. Esperança Pina. Edição LIDEL – edições técnicas, 2ª edição. Lisboa

 

“Fundamentos de Bioética” - Diego Gracia. Coimbra. Gráfica de Coimbra, 817 pág., 2007