Medical Ethics & Law – MCCQE1 High-Yield Notes

Medical ethics and Canadian medical law questions appear in every MCCQE1 exam. Mastering the four principles, consent, capacity, confidentiality, and end-of-life care is essential.

🔑 Key Topics for MCCQE1

Four principles of bioethics: Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Justice
Informed consent: must be voluntary, informed, and given by a capable person
Capacity assessment: understand, appreciate, reason, communicate a decision
Substitute decision-maker hierarchy in Canada (varies by province)
Confidentiality: when to breach (harm to identifiable third party, mandatory reporting)
Mandatory reporting: child abuse, communicable diseases, impaired drivers, gunshot wounds
Advance directives: living will, power of attorney for personal care
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in Canada: eligibility criteria, safeguards
End-of-life care: palliative care principles, do-not-resuscitate orders
Disclosure of error: duty to disclose, apology legislation in Canada
Truth-telling: disclosure of diagnosis, prognosis, and uncertainty
Involuntary psychiatric admission: Form 1 criteria (danger to self/others)
Minors and consent: mature minor doctrine, age of majority by province
Research ethics: Tri-Council Policy Statement, REB approval
Conflict of interest: Canadian Medical Association guidelines

⚠️ High-Yield Clinical Pearls

Capacity ≠ Competence: Capacity is clinical (physician assesses), competence is legal (court decides)
Refusing treatment: A capable patient can refuse ANY treatment even life-saving – respect autonomy
Confidentiality breach: Must be serious, credible, identifiable threat not manageable otherwise
MAiD eligibility: Adult, eligible for health services, grievous irremediable condition, enduring suffering
Child abuse reporting: All regulated health professionals MUST report – no discretion allowed
Advance directive: Previous capable wishes override current incapable wishes

📊 Quick Reference Table

Principle	Definition	Clinical Example
Autonomy	Respect patient's right to decide	Patient refuses blood transfusion
Beneficence	Act in patient's best interest	Recommending best treatment
Non-maleficence	Avoid harm	Stopping futile treatment
Justice	Fair distribution of resources	Triage in emergency
Confidentiality	Protect patient information	Breach only with justification

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