Ethics 1

Define ethics?

Ethics is the science of morals or moral philosophy

Define morals?

those aspects reflecting the rightness or wrongness of an action, qualities that conform with behavioural standards

Define ethical norms?

Rules or behaviour to be complied with or used to evaluate or direct human conduct.

What do normative ethics concern?

Basic questions such as what is right or wrong

Define moral intuitions?

Considerations mainly from upbringing, cultural background, reflecting personal experiences and feelings or religious teachings and faith

Facts vs values?

A fact is indisputable whereas a value is much more open to question

What are the three main ethical theories?

Deontological ethics, consequentialist ethics, virtue ethics

Describe Deontological ethics?

Duty based theory, central value of being a human being, moral judgement should respond to law-like categorical imperatives,

Describe consequentialist ethics

main consideration is favouring action that will achieve the best possible consequence or result, outcome most important,

Describe virtue ethics?

Focus is the moral uprightness or goodness of the individual, being trustworthy, loyal, generous or helpful so is nature of any action

What are the Georgetown Mantra or Four Pillars of Ethics?

Beneficence, Non-maleficence, respect for autonomy, justice

Describe Beneficence and Non-maleficence?

Acting in ways that benefit a patient, intention, purpose and context

Describe respect for autonomy?

Capacity for self government in the individual, open to reason and consider consequences

Describe justice?

In health care refers to distribution of resources, such as access or denial of treatment

What should all decisions be?

ational, impartial, consistent and accountable

Describe ethics of care?

Similar to virtue ethics, but places more emphasis on altruistic emotions

Describe clinical or pragmatism?

Clinical pragmatism is that once all parties have identified and agreed what the clinical and directly related facts are about, attention shifts to the factors that reflect ethical disparities