SCH3145 Biomedical Ethics Revision Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the ethical principles, distributive justice theories, and moral frameworks from the SCH3145 Biomedical Ethics revision lecture.

Autonomy

A condition where an individual acts freely in accordance with their self-chosen plan, without being controlled by others or being incapable of thinking or acting on their own plans or desires.

Autonomy Conditions

The three suggested conditions for autonomy: intentionality, with understanding, and without controlling influence.

Beneficence

A statement of general moral obligation to act for the benefit of others and contribute to their welfare beyond just avoiding harm.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical principle that obligates us to abstain from causing harm or evil to others.

Justice

The fair, equitable, and appropriate treatment in light of what is due or owed to individuals or groups; essentially, justice is fairness.

Utilitarian (Distributive Justice)

Requires society to produce the maximal balance of positive value over disvalue, aiming for the least disvalue of all.

Libertarian (Distributive Justice)

A theory focused on respect for individual liberty and freedom, where people are responsible for themselves.

Egalitarian (Distributive Justice)

The theory that people are equal and should have equal rights and opportunities.

Communitarian (Distributive Justice)

An approach that values the community and favors general welfare over individual welfare, allowing the community to decide what is owed to its members.

Act Utilitarianism

A consequentialist approach looking for the greatest utility where rules are useful but expendable if they do not achieve the greatest good in a specific circumstance.

Rule Utilitarianism

An approach where rules are non-expendable guides for decision-making, typically formulated with the goal of achieving the greatest utility.

Virtue Based Theories

Theories that focus on the motivations and character traits of a person rather than the specific act, contending that right qualities lead to ethical actions.

Virtuous Character Traits for HCPs

The five traits expected of Health Care Practitioners under virtue theories: compassion, discernment, trustworthiness, integrity, and conscientiousness.

Positive Rights

Rights to be provided with certain goods or services by others, such as the right to well-being or clean water.

Negative Rights

Rights that constrain others from interfering with an individual's exercise of that right, such as the right to liberty.

Deontology

A non-consequentialist (Kantian) theory where the rightness or wrongness of an action is not exclusively a function of its consequences, but rather adherence to independent moral rules.

Absolutist

A characteristic of Deontology meaning there are no exceptions; one must abide by moral and ethical rules regardless of whether the consequences are good or bad.

Duty-based ethics

An ethical approach focused on doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do, and avoiding the wrong thing because it is wrong, often referred to as 'the principle of the thing'.