ABSTRACT
Medical ethics is a source of the anxiety for many, especially when approaching exams. The Hippocratic oath first outlined an ethical approach to medicine, and the general medical council requires that the medical ethics be a core subject in the medical curriculum. Medical ethics applies to all areas in the medicine, including the end-of-life decisions, medical error, priority setting, biotechnology, education, consent and confidentiality. Confidentiality is important in all patients, but young patients often think that their parents can access their records. The Bolam principle is central to understanding the duty of care as applied to consent issues (and negligence).
