further concepts in medical ethics

consequentialism

the ends justify the means: whether something is ethically right depends on the outcome

example of consequentialism

telling a worried patient that they will be okay if it does not change the outcome, even though lying is immoral

utilitarianism

actions that cause the most happiness for the most amount of people are ethical

example of utilitarianism

the lever/train-track problem, saving more lives is more beneficial

deontology

the stark difference between right and wrong, a contradiction to consequentialism: it doesn’t matter what the outcome is if something is inherently unethical

example of deontology

a surgeon telling a patient the truth: that they are going to die

consequentialism vs deontology

• use consequentialism when considering the broader aims of healthcare