Medical ethics in neurology and neurosurgery.
The author presents several basic concepts in contemporary medical ethics. Much of the discussion centers on self-determination and beneficence, two basic but sometimes opposed ethical principles in neurology and neurosurgery. These are applied to decision-making in competent and incompetent patients, using living-will legislation and recent legal decisions about withholding treatment as examples. The Baby Doe case is discussed in detail to demonstrate the importance of medical ethics in contemporary medical practice.
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D000013:Congenital Abnormalities; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006625:Hippocratic Oath; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases; D007258:Informed Consent; D009462:Neurology / Q000592:standards*; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000592:standards*; D010290:Parents; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010358:Patient Participation; D014474:Unconsciousness; D014481:United States