Ethical and Cultural Issues in Psycho-Oncology
Expert-defined terms from the Postgraduate Certificate in Psycho-Oncology course at LearnUNI. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
**Advance Directive #
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A written statement of a person's wishes regarding medical treatment, often crea… #
In psycho-oncology, advance directives can help ensure that a patient's values and preferences are respected, even if they lose the ability to communicate.
**Beneficence #
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The ethical principle of acting in the best interests of the patient, doing good… #
In psycho-oncology, beneficence requires healthcare providers to consider the whole person, including their emotional, social, and spiritual needs, as well as their physical health.
**Cultural Competence #
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The ability of healthcare providers to understand, respect, and respond to the c… #
Cultural competence is essential in psycho-oncology to ensure that patients receive care that is sensitive to their unique cultural background and experiences.
**Decision #
making Capacity:**
The ability of a patient to understand, appreciate, and make informed decisions… #
In psycho-oncology, decision-making capacity is crucial when patients face complex or difficult decisions about their care, such as whether to undergo aggressive treatment or to participate in clinical trials.
**Ethical Relativism #
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The belief that ethical principles and values are relative to the cultural, hist… #
In psycho-oncology, ethical relativism can pose challenges when healthcare providers must balance the need to respect cultural differences with the need to uphold ethical principles.
**Informed Consent #
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The process of obtaining a patient's voluntary and informed agreement to undergo… #
In psycho-oncology, informed consent is essential to ensure that patients make informed decisions about their care and are able to exercise autonomy and self-determination.
**Justice #
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The ethical principle of fairness, impartiality, and equity in the distribution… #
In psycho-oncology, justice requires healthcare providers to ensure that all patients have equal access to high-quality care, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, age, or socioeconomic status.
**Palliative Care #
**
A specialized approach to healthcare that focuses on relieving the symptoms, pai… #
In psycho-oncology, palliative care is an essential component of comprehensive care, as it helps patients manage the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of cancer and its treatment.
**Patient Autonomy #
**
The right of patients to make their own decisions about their medical treatment,… #
In psycho-oncology, patient autonomy is a fundamental principle that recognizes the importance of self-determination and respect for the individual's dignity and integrity.
**Privacy #
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The right of patients to control the disclosure and use of their personal and me… #
In psycho-oncology, privacy is essential to ensure that patients feel safe and secure in sharing sensitive information with their healthcare providers and to build trust and rapport.
**Spirituality #
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The search for meaning, purpose, and connection in life, often associated with r… #
In psycho-oncology, spirituality is an important aspect of holistic care, as it can provide patients with a sense of hope, comfort, and resilience in the face of cancer and its challenges.
**Truth #
telling:**
The ethical obligation of healthcare providers to be honest and transparent with… #
In psycho-oncology, truth-telling is essential to build trust and rapport, promote patient autonomy and informed decision-making, and support patients in coping with the emotional and psychological impact of cancer.
**Veracity #
**
The ethical principle of telling the truth and being honest in all interactions… #
In psycho-oncology, veracity is a fundamental principle that recognizes the importance of trust and transparency in the therapeutic relationship and the impact of honesty on patients' emotional and psychological well-being.
**Voluntariness #
**
The principle that patients' decisions about their medical treatment should be f… #
In psycho-oncology, voluntariness is essential to ensure that patients are able to exercise their autonomy and make informed decisions based on their values, beliefs, and preferences.
Sources: #
Sources:
* American Society of Clinical Oncology #
(2018). Ethics in Oncology. Retrieved from
* National Cancer Institute #
(2021). Ethical Issues in Cancer Care. Retrieved from
* Postgraduate Certificate in Psycho #
Oncology. (2022). Ethical and Cultural Issues in Psycho-Oncology. Retrieved from