5. DEONTOLOGY

Question 1

1. What ethical approach is often seen as the complete opposite of Consequentialism?

Answer 1

• Deontology

Question 2

2. Why are Deontology and Consequentialism seen as opposites to one another?

Answer 2

• Consequentialism is concerned with the outcome of
  the action
• Deontology is concerned with the nature of the action
  itself

Question 3

3. What is Deontology?

Answer 3

• this is an ethical approach that focuses on the rule, law
  or reason for which an action is taken
• doing the right action takes priority over what “good”
  result it may have

FOR DEONTOLOGISTS:
- there are specific actions that are considered
inherently wrong
- no matter what the ultimate result is

Question 4

4. What Greek words does the term “Deontology” derive from?

Answer 4

• Deon = Duty
• Logos = Science / study

Question 5

5. Within Deontology, what determines if an action is ethical?

Answer 5

AN ACTION IS RIGHT:
- if it is in accordance to a moral rule or principle
- some actions are morally forbidden
- some actions are morally permissable

Question 6

6. What do some Deontological Principles derive from?

Answer 6

• they derive from traditions
• they can derive from religious codes
  (EG: the Ten Commandments)
• they can derive from Historical Teachings
  (EG: the Hippocratic Oath)

Question 7

7. What kind of scheme does Deontology make use of?

Answer 7

• Deontology makes use of a duty-based scheme of
  ethics
• this involves a focus on duty and individual rights

DUTY:
- what people must or must not do

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS:
- what must be done or must not be done to people

Question 8

8. How does a duty-based scheme of ethics translate itself into medicine?

Answer 8

IT TRANSLATES TO:
- duties
- requirements
- obligations
- these need to be followed and fulfilled without
exception

Question 9

9. Who is the father of Deontology?

Answer 9

• Immanuel Kant
• he was an 18th Century German Philosopher
• he lived from 1724-1804

Question 10

10. What was Immanuel Kant’s thought process about ethics?

Answer 10

• he was focused on Rationality
• he believes that we can find which moral rules to obey
  by using our powers of reason

Question 11

11. What 2 key imperatives does Deontology make use of?

Answer 11

1. HYPOTHETICAL IMPERATIVES
   
   • do this in order to achieve that
2. CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
   
   • you have to do this
   • this is an unconditional command
   • it is a moral rule

Question 12

12. What is a Moral Rule?

Answer 12

• a moral rule is one that is laid on us
• it is an obligation that is required regardless of the end
  result you want to achieve
• it is required by reason
• it is the rule that should be chosen by all rational
  beings

Question 13

13. What are the 3 Parameters of an ethical act?

Answer 13

1. SELF
   
   • are you ready to accept the same act on yourself
2. UNIVERSALISABILITY
   
   • if an act is still right after you’ve universalised it
   • then it is ethical
3. MEANS
   
   • people are equal and deserve equal respect
   • any person should not be used as a means
   • a person should always be used as an end

Question 14

14. Answer this question.

Answer 14

• NO
• this action is unethical
• you are causing harm regardless of the result
• it does not align with parameters of self,
  universalisability and means

Question 15

15. What are the strengths of Deontology?

Answer 15

1. THEY ARE SIMPLE TO APPLY
   
   • they require that people follow the rules
   • they require that people do their duty
2. TENDS TO FIT WELL WITH OUR NATURAL
   INTUITION
   
   • this intuition is about what is or isn’t ethical
3. UNLIKE CONSEQUENTIALISM:
   
   • deontology does not require weighing the costs
     and benefits of possible consequences
   • this avoids subjectivity and uncertainty

Question 16

16. What would a rule based ethical theory mean in Medical Practice?

Answer 16

• the doctor attends to each patient with the same set of
  rules
• these rules are set before the consultation
• these rules are not allowed to be broken

Question 17

17. According to Rule-Based Medical Ethics, how do we judge the moral acts of doctors?

Answer 17

• we judge the moral acts of doctors based on:
  
  • their conformity rules
  • their conformity to duties
  • their conformity to obligations

Question 18

18. What are the challenges associated with Rule-Based Medical Ethics?

Answer 18

EACH PATIENT IS A UNIQUE PERSON:
- they have individual health needs
- this means that one set of rules will not suit every
patient
- this one set of rules cannot be applied to every
situation

Question 19

19. What is the issue with having only one set of pre-rules that need to be followed in a medical environment?

Answer 19

• there is not much room for manoeuvres in varying
  situations
• there is not much flexibility
• there is no grey scale view on the situation
• all the complexities of life are not being taken into
  account
• the rules and duties may conflict

Question 20

20. What are the criticisms of Deontology and Rule-Based Medical Ethics?

Answer 20

1. MORAL RULES CAN SEEM QUITE ABSTRACT
   
   • they are unable to deal with the complexity of real
     ethical dilemmas
2. THERE IS ROOM FOR DISAGREEMENT
   
   • with regards to what the rules require
   • EG: would the rules against killing another person
     be able to prohibit abortion or capital punishment
3. IF YOU ARE TO RIGIDLY FOLLOW DEONTOLOGY:
   
   • it can lead to disregarding the possible
     consequences of your actions
   • this can happen when determining what is the right
     and wrong action
   • this can produce final results and end affects that
     many people find unacceptable

Question 21

21. Who is Michael Stocker?

Answer 21

• he is a Contemporary Ethicist

Question 22

22. What outlook does Michael Stocker hold with regards to ethics?

Answer 22

• he rejects both Utilitarianism and Deontology
• he believes that these approaches take focus away
  from the person
• they transfer the focus onto the importance of
  principles, rules and obligations