Biomaterial Database

Ethics and preventive medicine. 1990

T Svensson, and M Sandlund

Unit for Planning and Development, City Health Center, Eskilstuna, Sweden.

Today different issues of medical ethics are in focus of the debate. A theoretical sequence starting at a "prepathogenic" level, ending in terminal care, is delineated to clarify the different characteristics of medical interventions. In this article we will discuss some ethical problems concerning interventions in the first parts of this sequence. Preventive measures at the population level are contrasted to the situation when the patient feels ill and calls for an intervention. Certain elements of paternalism are often interwoven in preventive medicine and health promotion.-The field of preventive medicine calls for a vivid theoretical and ethical discussion, which can mean better opportunities for effective prevention.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011315	Preventive Medicine	A medical specialty primarily concerned with prevention of disease (PRIMARY PREVENTION) and the promotion and preservation of health in the individual.	Medicine, Preventive,Preventative Care,Preventative Medicine,Preventive Care,Care, Preventative,Care, Preventive,Medicine, Preventative
D004992	Ethics, Medical	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.	Medical Ethics
D006293	Health Promotion	Encouraging consumer behaviors most likely to optimize health potentials (physical and psychosocial) through health information, preventive programs, and access to medical care.	Health Campaigns,Promotion of Health,Wellness Programs,Promotional Items,Campaign, Health,Campaigns, Health,Health Campaign,Health Promotions,Item, Promotional,Items, Promotional,Program, Wellness,Programs, Wellness,Promotion, Health,Promotional Item,Promotions, Health,Wellness Program
D012945	Social Values	Abstract standards or empirical variables in social life which are believed to be important and/or desirable.	Value Orientation,Values, Social,Value Orientations
D026706	Paternalism	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.
D028663	Ethical Theory	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)	Consequentialism,Deontological Ethics,Ethics, Deontological,Ethics, Teleological,Normative Ethics,Teleological Ethics,Utilitarianism,Deontological Ethic,Ethic, Deontological,Ethic, Normative,Ethic, Teleological,Ethical Theories,Ethics, Normative,Normative Ethic,Teleological Ethic,Theories, Ethical,Theory, Ethical,Utilitarianisms