Care Ethics

Care Ethics

• relational moral theory abt ethical decision making

• compassion, relationships, context > abstract principles

• 2 types → relational & contextual

Development

• Carol Gilligan (1982 book) → feminist care ethics

  • focus on relationships > individual actions → right thing

Relational Care Ethics

• X individual actions/virtues

• interactions & relationships b/w people → care/caregiving needs

Contextual Care Ethics

• X universal “right”

• needed for someone @ specific situation

Four Phases of Care Ethics (1998 - Tronto)

• Attentiveness (caring about) - need for care

• Responsibility (caring for) - caregiver role/duty

• Competence (caregiving) - successful/effective care

• Responsiveness (care receiving) - unique needs of individual (context dependent)

Context

• honoring unique values/expectations/goals

Example - vegan pt→ caregiver provides vegan meals

Interdependence

• relationships > individual rights/duties/virtues

• mutual dependence → meet needs → makes care necessary

• frees dependence from negative connotations → help X imperfection

Vulnerability/Dependence

• greater reliance to meet needs → susceptible to harm

• vulnerable - have values/expectations taken into account → care

Tronto (1998) → vulnerability is natural + dependence X negative

• elders require greater support

Clinical Settings

• care ethics - unconfined

Inside

• care X paid transaction b/w clinicians & patients

• clinicians → great attentiveness → patient response

Outside

• family caregivers x loved ones

Differences

• Principlism - generalizable/abstract theories / top-down analytical

• Virtue Ethics - personal characteristics

• Narrative Ethics - individual stories/perspectives X relationships

Limitations/Critiques

• lack of universal principles

• X population-scale (interpersonal focus)

• X carer needs

• pts may not want a deeper relationship w/ caregiver