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MED 105- MEDICAL ETHICS > 6. VIRTUE ETHICS > Flashcards

6. VIRTUE ETHICS Flashcards

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USMLE® Step 1 flashcards
1
Q
  1. List the 4 Ethical Theories?
A
  1. Consequentialism
  2. Utilitarianism
  3. Deontology
    (Rule-Based Ethics)
  4. Virtue Ethics Theory
    (Virtuous Character of the Doctor)
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2
Q
  1. Where is Virtue Ethics traced back to?
A
  • it is often traced back to ancient Greek Philosophy
  • it is linked with the writings of Socrates and Aristotle
  • it is linked with the writings of Mencius and Confucius
    in the East
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3
Q
  1. What is the Key Concept of Virtue Ethics?
A
  1. VIRTUE:
    • this is a character trait or a skill
    • it a way of living
  2. A PERSON’S BEHAVIOUR:
    • this is used as an indicator of their character
    • their actions allow us to assume that they have
      certain virtues
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4
Q
  1. According to Socrates, what does it mean to be virtuous?
A
  • a man should live in order to achieve Eudaemonia
  • this means that a man should live to achieve happiness
  • a man should behave in order to flourish
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5
Q
  1. What is Eudaemonia?
A
  • this is a term for the highest human good in old Greek
    tradition
  • it is about achieving satisfaction of one’s purpose to
    the fullest extent
  • it is a person’s state of excellence
  • it is characterised by objective flourishing across a
    lifetime
  • it is brought about through the exercise of moral
    virtue, practical wisdom, and rationality
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6
Q
  1. According to Rosalind Hursthouse and Philippa Foot, what does it mean to be virtuous?
A
  • virtue is what promotes human flourishing
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7
Q
  1. According to Aristotle, what does it mean to be virtuous?
A
  • a genuinely virtuous person is one who achieves true
    happiness and satisfaction
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8
Q
  1. According to Aristotle, what is the right and correct action to take in a situation?
A
  • this is the act that a virtuous person would do in the
    circumstances
  • a virtuous person is one who exhibits 4 cardinal virtues
  • the focus is not on the nature or the consequences of
    the action
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9
Q
  1. What are the 4 Cardinal Virtues?
A
  1. Prudence
  2. Justice
  3. Fortitude
  4. Temperance
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10
Q
  1. What is Prudence?
A
  • this is when the right reason is applied to an action
  • a person is required to use their:
    • knowledge
    • understanding
    • skills
    • intuition
    • to decide on what action is the best
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11
Q
  1. What are the 3 steps of Prudence?
A
  1. Counsel
  2. Judge
  3. Command
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12
Q
  1. What does it mean to Gnome?
A
  • this is to use your wit or judgement when there has
    been a departure from the common rules
  • it requires moral and intellectual virtue
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13
Q
  1. Why is Prudence important?
A
  • it does not tie a medical practitioner to abstract rules
  • this is because each patient is an individual case
  • each patient should be treated as an individual case
  • using intellectual reasoning will help us come up with
    the best treatment plan
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14
Q
  1. What is Justice?
A
  • this is giving each patient what it due to them
  • this is dependent on your patient’s specified needs
  • treating the special needs of your patient ensure that
    the treatment is just
  • it is about being fair to your patients
  • it is about abiding to the notion that patients in similar
    positions should be treated in a similar manner
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15
Q
  1. What is equality?
A
  • this is at the heart of justice
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16
Q
  1. What were Aristotle’s Views on Justice and Equality?
A
  • justice is more than mere equality
  • people can be treated unjustly even if they are treated
    equally
  • Justice must abide by Horizontal Equity
  • Justice must abide by Vertical Equity
17
Q
  1. What is Horizontal Equity?
A
  • the importance of treating equals equally
18
Q
  1. What is Vertical Equity?
A
  • the importance of treating non-equals unequally
  • this is in proportion to the morally relevant inequalities
19
Q
  1. What is Fortitude?
A
  • this is moral courage
  • it enables one to act reasonably and appropriately
  • it is the ability to cope
  • it is the ability to make sound decisions with firmness
    and strength
  • it is the ability to make the right decision in the face of
    difficulty or when one is under pressure
    (EG: when a patient is in danger of death)
20
Q
  1. What is Temperance?
A
  • this is the ability to ensure that all the decisions you
    have made are well measured and moderated
  • these decisions need to be free from any self-interest
21
Q
  1. How do Medical Professionals practice Temperance?
A
  • health care professionals may make decisions that
    involve putting the best interests of patients and the
    clinical team before one’s own
  • they sacrifice their own personal interest to ensure the
    best possible outcome for the patients and the clinic
22
Q
  1. Look at this case.
    How is Prudence applied to this case?
A
  • the doctor was able to use their knowledge and the
    specific information of this case to change their
    approach to the patient when needed
23
Q
  1. Look at this case.
    How is Justice applied to this case?
A
  • the baby and the mother were given equal treatment
    chances by the clinical team
24
Q
  1. Look at this case.
    How is Temperance applied to this case?
A
  • there was no self-interest involved in the doctor’s
    decision making
  • the limitations regarding the patient’s situation were
    taken into consideration
  • the issues regarding the patient were dealt with at a
    Clinical Level
  • this allowed for more perspectives to be present in the
    decision making process
25
Q
  1. What are the 4 Distinctive Focuses of Virtue Ethics?
A
  1. Virtue Ethics is Agent Based
  2. Considering One’s Character
  3. A Virtuous Person Does Right Acts for the Right
    Motives
  4. The Golden Mean
26
Q
  1. What is meant by “Considering One’s Character”?
A
  • this revolves around being concerned with a person’s
    motivation for action
  • it looks at their ethical behaviour
  • it is not concerned with the rightness or consequences
    of the action itself
  • it believes that an act can be beneficial, but the
    motivations for the act can still be morally wrong
27
Q
  1. What is meant by “A virtuous person does right acts for the right motives”?
A
  • a virtuous person will perform a virtuous act because
    of their character and their need to act in a virtuous
    way
  • a virtuous person’s actions and behaviour require
    some kind of consistency throughout their lives
28
Q
  1. What is meany by the “Golden Mean”?
A
  • this is the belief that whatever is moderate is right
  • it involves courage
  • courage is found in the middle of cowardice
    and recklessness
  • courage is the ability to not be impulsive
  • courage is the ability to act bravely in the appropriate
    way
29
Q
  1. What are the criticisms of Virtue Ethics?
A
  1. Much of our behaviour is not a result of our character
    • it is not a result of our character traits and virtues
    • our behaviour is controlled by the situation we are in
    • our behaviour can be limited by the institutions we
      work for
  2. Virtue theory may be too individualistic
    • the focus should be on what acts contribute to the
      good of all
    • which actions benefit the whole community
  3. It can be unhelpful in resolving moral conflicts
    • even virtuous individuals are often unsure of how to
      act in particular situations
  4. Virtues are subjective
    • they differ based on different societies, cultures,
      values etc.
30
Q
  1. What do Virtue Ethics focus on in Medicine?
A
  • they focus on the character of a virtuous doctor
  • doctors are defined by what they repeatedly do
  • a virtue is a good habit that is practiced consistently
31
Q
  1. What happens to Doctors in the Medical World when it comes to virtues?
A
  • the doctor becomes naturally oriented to do what is
    right
  • this is achieved through practice
  • the doctor will be naturally inclined to act in an ethical
    and legal manner
  • doctors will act simply for the good in itself
  • doctors will act for the medical good of their patient
  • doctors should not act out of fear
32
Q
  1. Does a Doctor’s good character alone ensure that the right decision is made?
A
  • NO
  • a doctor’s virtues must be linked to the obligations that
    the physician owes their patient
  • the doctor must be committed to the good of the
    patient over their own self-interest
33
Q
  1. What was Pellegrino’s outlook on Medical Virtues?
A
  • the focus of Medical Ethics should be on the traits
    necessary to do the work of medicine well
  • the good of medicine is found in:
    • preservation of health
    • promotion of health
    • restoration of health
34
Q
  1. According to Pellegrino and Thomasma, what virtues should a doctor have?
A
  • trust
  • compassion
  • prudence
  • justice
  • fortitude
  • temperance
  • integrity
  • self-effacement
35
Q
  1. According to Pellegrino, what virtues should a doctor have?
A
  • fidelity
  • honesty
  • compassion
  • effacement
  • self interest
  • courage
  • justice
36
Q
  1. According to the World Medical Association (WMA), what virtues should a doctor have?
A
  • compassion
  • honesty
  • prudence
  • dedication

NB:
- these are the universal values
- they are irrespective of context according to the WMA

37
Q
  1. Read through this summary.
    Does everything make sense?
A
  • yes
38
Q
  1. Answer the following questions.
A
  • you can answer them verbally or on paper

MED 105- MEDICAL ETHICS (36 decks)

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