A term you may not have come across before is consequentialism. It’s an idea that is incredibly important when it comes to medical ethics, and therefore it’s really important you get an understanding of what exactly consequentialism refers to for your interviews.
In this guide, we will go through what it is, its importance in medicine and how you may be asked this in an interview.
Written by Ayma Ahmed
What is Consequentialism?
Consequentialism is a very common ethical debate topic, which assesses the morality of actions based on their outcomes. Here’s the definition:
Consequentialism – the doctrine that the morality of an action is to be judged solely by its consequences
So in terms of healthcare, consequentialism refers to the idea that when we as doctors make decisions, we base the rightness or wrongness of them on the outcomes they provide for the patients.
Utilitarianism
The most common form of this is utilitarianism, which is the idea that doctors should make the choice that maximises a patients well being. This can also be considered on a wider scale, making decisions that would benefit the highest number of patients.
This is often considered during resource allocation, as the NHS needs to make the most of the limited resources it has. However, using this principle alone would likely leave more vulnerable patients without the necessary resources.
Those with greater medical needs generally take up more resources which, using a Utilitarianism mindset, could benefit multiple patients instead. Therefore, we need to consider the morality of the situation on an individual level as well. This could include Libertarian and Egalitarian theories, which are more focused on individual rights and equality.
Deontology
You may also come across the idea of deontology, which directly contradicts consequentialism. This is the idea that the choices you make should solely be based on the rules and regulations and whether they follow these, as well as the consequences of going against healthcare regulations.
In most cases, the restrictions that medical professionals work under are manageable and appropriate for the decisions we need to make. However, you will likely have to make a tough choice at least once in your career that may go against the rules for the benefit of the patient.
These kinds of decisions should never be made alone, so always ensure you work with your team to come to a conclusion, should the time allow for it.
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Consequentialism in Healthcare
There are many real-life examples where consequentialism plays a key role in healthcare:
Resource Allocation
We can use the principle of consequentialism to help guide our decision-making in regard to the distribution of resources we provide to patients. For example, we can use it to prioritise resources for patients who are more likely to benefit from the treatments or for those who will positively impact more people in society through their continued survival.
End-of-Life Care
Within palliative care, consequentialism plays a key role in ensuring that a patient’s quality of life and support is prioritised over the lengthening of life. In many cases, this will require fewer resources and will free up doctors and hospital beds sooner, though we still need to take the patient’s wishes into account should they have the capacity for Autonomy. In countries where it is legal, the option of euthanasia is also a consideration.
Preventative Medicine
Public health interventions such as the use of vaccines play a key role in the prevention of the spread of illness, which benefits a larger population. However, these can sometimes pose a risk to a small minority of the public, especially when vaccines are rolled out fast with less rigorous testing such as what we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Consequentialism Medical Scenario
To really understand what consequentialism is, imagine this scenario.
You, as a doctor, have a patient with a serious condition, who is presenting with severe pain, vomiting and fever. However, their condition is treatable, and there are two available treatment plans. The first is more expensive but is 99% effective. The second treatment is cheaper and is 90% effective.
Now, this is a difficult scenario to deal with as you would want to ensure the patient receives the best possible treatment. Taking it from a consequentialism viewpoint, you would view the wider points that may occur as a result of each treatment.
For example, the money that is saved by opting for the second treatment can be used to support other patients, as well as the idea that the other treatment can benefit another future patient who may be more sick at the time. As you can see, consequentialism takes into consideration the morality of the actions and whether they benefit the wider population as a whole.
As you can see, consequentialism plays an important role in decision-making and in influencing how we proceed in medicine. But how might you be asked about it in interviews?
Consequentialism Questions In medical School Interviews
Let’s take a look at a question you may be asked about consequential in your interviews and MMIs and see how you could answer it.
Medical Ethics Question - Consequentialism
What is consequentialism and how might it affect decision-making in a healthcare setting?
Just looking at this question it may seem like a loaded question, with multiple elements to it. But breaking it down can make it seem simpler. The first step is to define what consequentialism is and why it is important in healthcare. You then want to explore using an example how it may impact decision making. Here’s an example of this in practice.
Model Answer
Consequentialism is an ethical principle that states that as doctors we must base our actions on the morality of their outcomes. Overall in healthcare, our aims are to lead to an outcome which not only provides the best healthcare outcomes but also benefits the greatest number of patients.
For example, a doctor has to decide whether to give a patient a drug which is cheaper and quite effective and a drug which is more expensive but also more effective. In this scenario, the doctor must view it holistically which is a part of consequentialism, taking into consideration both elements.
The principle of consequentialism would lean towards the doctor choosing the less expensive drug, as the money that is saved can be used to treat other patients and potentially mean better overall health outcomes. As you can see in that scenario, it is all about making the decision that will benefit a wider population and therefore ensure equity for all.
This example was a fairly direct question, but you may be asked to respond to a scenario instead, which would require a different technique that we outlined in our Medical Ethics Interview Questions Guide.
I hope this guide has been useful to you, I know that I wasn’t aware of this principle until pretty late into my application and I’m glad I learnt about it because it ended up appearing in my interview! This is just one of many ethics topics that could come up, so be sure to explore our selection of interview guides to learn even more about medicine and medical ethics in an interview context!
If you want to work with an expert medicine tutor to better understand these concepts, our Interview Tutoring Bundles are perfect for you. Alongside one-to-one tuition hours, you’ll also have access to plenty of comprehensive materials and live crash courses. Our Medicine Mastery Bundles are also available to guide you through the whole medicine application process, including the UCAT and Personal Statement. Be sure to book a free consultation to learn more from our friend team.
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