Medical Ethics and the Law (UK) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Medical Ethics and the Law (UK) - Essay Example According to the report findings there are also some cases wherein the patients are not able to make theirown personal decision.   In the case of Major Tom, he was critically injured at the time the plane crashes and was unconscious at the time the proposed operation was delivered by Mr. Botch.   In this case, Mr. Botch was responsible in balancing his duty of care with regards to autonomy  or the practice of informed consent; as well as the practice of non-maleficence, beneficence  and justice.This essay stresses that the capability of the patient to give consent on a specific care or treatment should always be considered by the health care professionals unless there is are clinical evidences that can prove that the patient will never be able to be mentally capable of deciding for himself.   As a general rule, the patient have the legal right to either agree or disagree with the health care professionals’ proposed medical treatment based on the patients’ own set of values and/or religious beliefs.  It is but ethical for Mr. Botch to respect the personal decision of Major Tom with regards to whether he would go through the lung surgery or not.  Health care professionals should also practice the law of confidentiality. It is generally unethical for health care professionals to talk about or disclose the health condition of the patient to other people regardless of whether the mode of communication is verbal or in written.