Ethics 3 - Mental Capacity, Rights and Tragic Dilemmas

Question 1

Define right

Answer 1

A special form of moral claim (legal vs moral). Positive (what must be provided) or negative (what others may not do to us)

Question 2

What is a consequentialist approach?

Answer 2

Consider the consequences - saving someones life with minimal risk to someone else in the case of a bone marrow transplant

Question 3

What is a precedent right? List the arguments for and against.

Answer 3

Deciding what you would do when you have capacity in a situation where you would have no capacity (eg. dementia or severe brain injury). Legal right.

• Might be new treatments in the future
• Not fully informed
• Need to consider person who has become demented (respect their autonomy)
• Not the same person once demented

Question 4

What are the reasons to abort a disabled child?

Answer 4

• Financial, physical and emotional strain on parents
• Other children in the family may suffer as a result
• Women should have a right to choose

Question 5

What are the reasons against aborting a disabled child?

Answer 5

• Disabled children have the same right to life as a non-diabled child
• There would be no disability if stigma and limitations in society were removed

Question 6

Is the law the best way of promoting ethical behaviour?

Answer 6

• Not everything illegal is unethical

- Not everything unethical is illegal