Medical Law and Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Medical Law and Ethics - Essay Example technological advancements took place and as human civilizations marched to the 21st century, disease associated pharmaceutical, medical interventions and the like came into picture. Consequently, to ensure safety of fellow human beings ‘Medical law and ethics’ came into existence around 1950s. As years passed on, stricter control and laws were enforced, essentially to differentiate between what was a genuine effort in research and murder under the guise of medical trials. Presently, we have various laws and guidelines adopted by different countries and unions, including the European Union (1, 2). One among such guidelines is the Informed Consent (IC). Case 1. Patient dies owing to an artery being inadvertently severed during surgery. Surgery performed by a junior doctor in the absence of a supervising senior doctor and without the informed consent of the dead patient. A novel surgery technique involving laser equipment was adopted. The supervising senior doctor was also called to give advice on another case and since s/he cannot be present at two places at the same time, chooses not to be present at the operation theatre. As the patient dies ‘Blame game’ and ‘wriggling out of the situation with excuses’ starts - Hospital authorities clearly at the receiving end. Case 2. Patient’s brother, aged 16, male, taking medical consultation for an STD presumably contracted through a one night stand with his girlfriend, exhibits malicious behaviour. Clinicians deserve a better deal or patients are required to show better behaviour. Case 3. Patient (the adolescent with STD) administered substandard drug. Consequently, develops (presumably life threatening) severe respiratory infection. Hospital authorities definitely caught on the wrong foot again, as a better, albeit costly, drug is available for the same STD condition and is recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE). An evergreen debate in Medical Law and Ethics