Duties that are based in ETHICS, rather than in law.

Standards of conduct that distinguish right from wrong.

The fundamental dispositions and traits of humans. (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed)

A philosophically coherent set of propositions (for example, utilitarianism) which attempts to provide general norms for the guidance and evaluation of moral conduct. (from Beauchamp and Childress, Principles of Biomedical Ethics, 4th ed)

The point at which religious ensoulment or PERSONHOOD is considered to begin.

The state or condition of being a human individual accorded moral and/or legal rights. Criteria to be used to determine this status are subject to debate, and range from the requirement of simply being a human organism to such requirements as that the individual be self-aware and capable of rational thought and moral agency.

The state that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, manifested by growth, metabolism, reproduction, and adaptation. It includes the course of existence, the sum of experiences, the mode of existing, or the fact of being. Over the centuries inquiries into the nature of life have crossed the boundaries from philosophy to biology, forensic medicine, anthropology, etc., in creative as well as scientific literature. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed; Dr. James H. Cassedy, NLM History of Medicine Division)

The obligations and accountability assumed in carrying out actions or ideas on behalf of others.

The intrinsic moral worth ascribed to a living being. (Bioethics Thesaurus)

The principles of professional conduct concerning the rights and duties of the physician, relations with patients and fellow practitioners, as well as actions of the physician in patient care and interpersonal relations with patient families.

The process by which individuals internalize standards of right and wrong conduct.

The state or quality of being kind, charitable, or beneficial. (from American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed). The ethical principle of BENEFICENCE requires producing net benefit over harm. (Bioethics Thesaurus)

Character traits that are considered to be morally praiseworthy. (Bioethics Thesaurus)

Systematic statements of principles or rules of appropriate professional conduct, usually established by professional societies.

The principles of proper professional conduct concerning the rights and duties of nurses themselves, their patients, and their fellow practitioners, as well as their actions in the care of patients and in relations with their families.

Refusal of the health professional to initiate or continue treatment of a patient or group of patients. The refusal can be based on any reason. The concept is differentiated from PATIENT REFUSAL OF TREATMENT see TREATMENT REFUSAL which originates with the patient and not the health professional.

Self-directing freedom and especially moral independence. An ethical principle holds that the autonomy of persons ought to be respected. (Bioethics Thesaurus)

The use of systematic methods of ethical examination, such as CASUISTRY or ETHICAL THEORY, in reasoning about moral problems.

Clusters of topics that fall within the domain of BIOETHICS, the field of study concerned with value questions that arise in biomedicine and health care delivery.

The rights of the individual to cultural, social, economic, and educational opportunities as provided by society, e.g., right to work, right to education, and right to social security.

The cognitive and affective processes which constitute an internalized moral governor over an individual's moral conduct.

Abstract standards or empirical variables in social life which are believed to be important and/or desirable.

The principles of proper conduct concerning the rights and duties of the professional, relations with patients or consumers and fellow practitioners, as well as actions of the professional and interpersonal relations with patient or consumer families. (From Stedman, 25th ed)

An approach to ethics that focuses on theories of the importance of general principles such as respect for autonomy, beneficence/nonmaleficence, and justice.

Promotion and protection of the rights of patients, frequently through a legal process.

Persons who are enrolled in research studies or who are otherwise the subjects of research.

Promotion and protection of the rights of children; frequently through a legal process.

The reporting of observed or suspected PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT or incompetence to appropriate authorities or to the public.

The identification, analysis, and resolution of moral problems that arise in the care of patients. (Bioethics Thesaurus)

A branch of applied ethics that studies the value implications of practices and developments in life sciences, medicine, and health care.

Fundamental claims of patients, as expressed in statutes, declarations, or generally accepted moral principles. (Bioethics Thesaurus) The term is used for discussions of patient rights as a group of many rights, as in a hospital's posting of a list of patient rights.

Interaction between research personnel and research subjects.

An interactive process whereby members of a community are concerned for the equality and rights of all.

An oath, attributed to Hippocrates, that serves as an ethical guide for the medical profession.

Differences of opinion or disagreements that may arise, for example, between health professionals and patients or their families, or against a political regime.

Interference with the FREEDOM or PERSONAL AUTONOMY of another person, with justifications referring to the promotion of the person's good or the prevention of harm to the person. (from Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, 1995); more generally, not allowing a person to make decisions on his or her own behalf.

The moral obligations governing the conduct of research. Used for discussions of research ethics as a general topic.

Voluntary authorization, by a patient or research subject, with full comprehension of the risks involved, for diagnostic or investigative procedures, and for medical and surgical treatment.

Revealing of information, by oral or written communication.

The use of humans as investigational subjects.

A love or pursuit of wisdom. A search for the underlying causes and principles of reality. (Webster, 3d ed)

Violation of laws, regulations, or professional standards.

The process of discovering or asserting an objective or intrinsic relation between two objects or concepts; a faculty or power that enables a person to make judgments; the process of bringing to light and asserting the implicit meaning of a concept; a critical evaluation of a person or situation.

The kind of action or activity proper to the judiciary, particularly its responsibility for decision making.