Bioethics Terms/Moral Theories

Autonomy

A patient has the right to make decisions about their own healthcare

Beneficence

Healthcare workers should try to do things that benefit the patient and improve their well-being

Nonmaleficence

Healthcare workers should avoid unnecessarily hurting or harming patients

Justice

Healthcare should be provided fairly, rather than based on things like someone's wealth or social status

Veracity

Healthcare workers should be honest with patients and give them accurate information

Confidentiality

A patient's medical information should be kept private and only shared when appropriately permitted or required

Utilitarianism

Choose the action that creates the best for the most people

Act utilitarianism

Looks at each individual situation and chooses the action that will create the best outcome in that specific case.

Rule utilitarianism

Follows general rules that, if people followed them, would usually create the best outcomes for everyone.

Virtue Ethics

Focuses on being a good person and having good character traits like honesty, courage, and compassion

Feminist Ethics

Focuses on care, relationships, empathy, inequality, and power differences between people

Kantian Ethics

Do what is morally right because it is your duty, regardless of the consequences

Roman Catholic

Uses natural law, reason, and virtue to determine what is morally right. Associated with Thomas Aquinas

Rawls Contract

Moral rules should be fair to everyone. Imagine making rules without knowing your own place in society