Ethical Reasoning Flashcards
What is design thinking?
Translates ethical thinking into ethical practice
We work with the patients to facilitate their healing
What is ethics?
Ethics is about deciding what we should do
It’s not about opinions
What is an argument against abortion?
We have a duty not to kill
We need to consider:
is a zygote a human being with a right to life?
Do i have the same duties towards a zygote as towards a 5 year old child?
What is an argument for abortion?
The duty to kill does not extend to the fetus
We have a duty towards persons not humans with just a genetic make up (a foetus is not a person)
What argument counters the argument that a foetus is not a human?
Neonates, young infants and adults with severe mental disability lack autonomy therefore they are not persons so they don’t have a right to life
With this mentality, this means infanticide and killing those with severe mental disability is moral
Do we have a duty to respect autonomy?
As individuals we have the right to chose what does or doesn’t happen to us
A woman can make an autonomous choice to have an abortion
What is the problem with duty?
How do we decide what’s right and what’s wrong?
What do we do if our moral duties conflict?
Absolves the individual from many moral responsibility for the consequence of their actions
What are limits to autonomy in abortion?
We generally accept the right to choose however when a woman aborts her fetu it harms the fetus. Therefor a woman’s right to choose an abortion can be refuted as it hurts the fetus
What are the two conflicting duties when it comes to an abortion?
Duty to respect autonomy vs the duty to not end life
What is a virtue?
A character trait a human being needs to flourish or live well
What are maternal virtues that society may hold towards a woman?
We dont expect people to be superheros and save others no matter the risk to themselves
So is it fair to hold pregnant women to higher expectations?
What are a fetus’s rights in the eyes of the law?
The fetus has no legal rights until birth
The fact that a woman os pregnant doesn’t affect her legal rights in any way
She can engage in any lawful behavior that is harmful t the fetus
She can refuse medical treatment including a c. section even if it risks the life of the baby
Are there parental rights?
The father has a biological and emotional stake in pregnancy
Should he have a right to demand a pregnancy continue?
Should he have a right to not be a farther?
What are the paternal rights in the light of the law?
Once born the father has legal responsibilities (child maintenance)
The father has no legal rights during pregnancy
No legal right to request or veto an abortion
No legal right to be consulted or informed of an abortion
Why does the father not have a right over maternal rights?
If the father had rights over pregnancy these would have to be exercised through the mother’s body against her wishes
What are the legal grounds for abortion?
Abortion is a criminal offence unless:
The pregnancy is less than 24 weeks
OR
at any stage of pregnancy: it is necessary to prevent permanent injury to the mother, continuing pregnancy would involve a greater risk to the life if the woman than termination or risk of serious physical or mental handicap
What is consequentialism?
Whether an action is ethically right or wrong is determined by the overall consequences of the action. (Benefit outweighs harm)
What is utilitarianism?
Type of benefit should be measured in determining the consequences is that of overall happiness or pleasure
What are consequentialist arguments in regard to antenatal screening for disability?
Looking after a child with severe disability impacts on the parents and other children in the family
Emotional and financial strain on parents
Long term costs associated with care
Consider the QoL of person with disability
What is the problem with just thinking about consequences?
Certain actions are almost always wrong
Very difficult to be certain of the consequences
Could justify heinous actions (for greater good…)
Does not take account of individual rights
What are abortion and disability rights?
An abortion can be performed at any stage on the grounds of disability
Few conditions are so awful that baby could be said better off dead
Down’s syndrome accounts for 20% of abortion
What percentage of abortion does down’s syndrome account for?
Down’s syndrome accounts for 20% of abortion performed on the grounds ‘serious handicap’
Is disability a social construct?
Disability s only a problem because society fails to adequately support those with a disability
Parents of disabled children are often more worried about social stigma than physical limitations
Parents worry about who will look after their child after they die
