BIOETHICS QUIZ 1 konti langhehe

Ethics

is the branch of philosophy that deals with the principles of morality and the well-defined standards of right and wrong

Consequential- outcomes determines the morality of the act
Non-consequential- source of morality comes from something else such as law, God or moral law, sense of duty.

State the two different ways of looking at the morality of humanity

Ethical Theory

systematic effort to understand moral concepts and justify moral principles.

Immanuel Kant

Deontology is often associated with who?

• He said that human's common traits are the ability to reason

• Pure reasoning: is the source of morality

• He said we have an obligation to do the right thing

duty

What does “deon” mean?

Deontology

• ethical theory that uses rules to distinguish right from wrong

• adherence to certain right or duties (duty-centered theory)

Reason: foundation of a sound ethics, think through moral principles
Goodwill: source/origin of ethical obligation, “doable for the human person”
Duty: motivation for reason and goodwill: “doable for the human will”

State the Kant’s Concept

RULES OF DEONTOLOGY

1. Act only according to that maxim (rule)

2. Principle of Reversibility: maxim (rule) is right if one reciprocates

3. Practical Imperative: do not use others a means to one’s end

Teleology

Greek: telos, “end”
● Finality (Consequences)
● Reason or explanation for something as a function of its end, purpose, or goal.
● Any philosophical account that holds that final causes exist in nature
● is the study of the ends or purposes that things serve

Aristotle

Who is the person associated with teleology?
- He said that the best way to understand why things are the way they are is to understand their purpose

Types of Teleology

1. Natural Teleology: purpose/end of a natural entity e.g. oak tree for acorn

2. Cybernetics: study of mechanical systems with built in goals

3. Consequentialism: “end justify the means” (the action is judged right or wrong basing by the consequences of that action)

Utilitarianism

• determines right from wrong by focusing on outcomes

• Most ethical choice=one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number. (action is right if majority benefits)

• HEDONISTIC MORAL THEORY = pursue good and happiness and avoid pain

Jeremy Bentham

Who is the person associated with Utilitarianism?

• “It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong.”

• Provided the Bentham’s Felicific/Hedonistic Calculus- a method or guide to balance the pros and cons of a proposed course of action in relation to the balance of pleasures and pains it potentially produces.

John Stuart Mill

✔ His Utilitarian Theory of Morality is a development and clarification of the theory created by Jeremy Bentham.

✔ Predominance of Pleasure over Pain.

✔ Highlighted distinction between qualities and quantities of pleasures and pains.

Act and Rule

What are the 2 types of Utilitarianism?

ACT-UTILITARIANISM

act is right if and only if it results in as much good

RULE-UTILITARIANISM

act is right if it conforms to a valid rule

THE GREATEST HAPPINESS PRINCIPLE

• Actions are considered moral when they promote the utility and immoral when they promote the reverse.
• The main elements of this philosophy are one’s actions and their resulting utility.
• In order for the action to be moral, it must be the optimal choice in increasing utility and minimizing pain.

Ethical Principles

• General standards of conduct that makes ethical system

• By this view, an action or decision is generally considered morally right or good when it accords with a given relevant moral principle, and morally wrong or bad when it does not.

Ethical Principilism

view that ethical decision-making and problem solving is best undertaken by appealing to sound moral principles

REVIEW FOR ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

• Autonomy: Respecting a person's right to make their own decisions. This means allowing individuals to choose what they believe is best for them, as long as they understand the consequences of their choices.

• Non-maleficence: "Do no harm." This principle emphasizes avoiding causing harm to others, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

• Beneficence: Acting in the best interest of others by doing good and promoting their well-being. It involves helping people and working to improve their situation.

• Justice: Treating people fairly and equally, making sure that resources, care, and opportunities are distributed without discrimination or bias.

• Veracity: Being truthful and honest in all interactions. This principle values transparency and not deceiving others.

• Fidelity: Keeping promises and being loyal. It means honoring commitments and maintaining trust in relationships.

• Confidentiality: Protecting private information shared by someone, ensuring it is not disclosed to others without permission unless it's absolutely necessary for safety or legal reasons.

Virtue Ethics

● Its primary focus is the heart of the moral agent making the decision rather than the reasoning to a right action.
● It is primarily about personal character and moral habit development rather than a particular action.
● General Principle: “We should always act in accordance with the virtues or as a truly virtuous person would.”

Moral: person’s character
Intellectual: persons’ intellect

What’s the two kinds of Virtues?

Autonomy

• the right to self-determination

• a person’s ability to make or to exercise self-determining choice

• people should be free to choose and entitled to act on their preferences

• Autonomy is NOT absolute

• Factors that affect decision: ➢ Emotions ➢ Time

Paternalism

refers to situations where a physician or other healthcare professional makes decisions for a patient without the explicit consent of patient
● Deliberate restriction of people’s autonomy by health care professionals based on the idea that they know what’s best for the clients - can be justifiable at times
● Not everything legal is ethical and vice versa
● Doing good should take precedence over autonomy

Informed Consent

refers to the patient’s deliberate and voluntary acceptance of a health care procedure
- goal: assure patient autonomy

Proxy consent

is the process by which people with the legal right to consent to medical treatment for themselves or for a minor or award delegate that right to another