ethics for vet teams

Question 1

ethics1 vs ethics2

Answer 1

1; right vs wrong
2; study of 1

Question 2

utilitarianism

Answer 2

• looks at consequences
• focused on outcomes
• most ethical choice is one that will produce greatest good for greatest number
• considers all stakeholders, costs, benefits and numbers
• accounts for interests of the majority

Question 3

problems with utilitarianism

Answer 3

• predicting outcomes
• can justify immoral means
• debate about what is greatest good
• can justify gross inequality
• doesn’t recognize rights of individual
• ignore motivation; favours the lucky fool

Question 4

deontology

Answer 4

• looks at the intent
• a choice or action is right if it conforms with a moral norm
• some choices morally forbidden
• thought that counts
• right is prioritized over good (ex if its not right to lie, outcome doesn’t matter even if its good, it is not right)
• encompasses individual rights

Question 5

limitations of deontology

Answer 5

• no context; doesn’t take conrexr itno account
• inflexible
• absurd

Question 6

non-maleficence

Answer 6

do no harm

Question 6

beneficence

Answer 6

do good

Question 7

autonomy

Answer 7

allow animals to be self governing

Question 8

justice

Answer 8

treat all animals and people fairly and equally

Question 9

principalism

Answer 9

• non maleficence, beneficence, autonomy, justice
• emphasis on harm minimization
• promoting good
• requires disclosure of info that fosters autonomous devision making
• treats stakeholders fairly

Question 10

limitations of principilism

Answer 10

• autonomy is hard to apply to animals
• most interventions involve some harm
• applications of justice to animals is challening
• hard to weigh different pinciples

Question 11

virtue ethics

Answer 11

• virtue= character trait that is reliably present in an individual
• moral virtue is such a trait that is morally valuable

Question 12

some virtue ethics needed as a vet

Answer 12

compassion, discernment, trustworthiness, integrity, conscientiousness

Question 13

virtue ethics emphasizes:

Answer 13

• personal development
• practical wisdom
• questioning of personal values and motives
• how to translate intentions into actions
• mentoring, role modelling

Question 14

virtue ethics pros

Answer 14

• holistic
• role-based
• emphasis on personal development

Question 15

virtue ethics cons

Answer 15

• conflict between different virtues ex honesty, loyalty etc
• good people can make bad decisions; when are they not virtuous

Question 16

what is “the matrix”

Answer 16

a table with a checklist of concerns, lists all the stakeholders

columns consist of
- well being (utilitarianism)
- autonomy (deontology)
- justice (principilism)

Question 17

pros of the matrix

Answer 17

• checklist of concerns
• may identify KEY concerns
• analysis from different stakeholder perspectives
• designed by scientists for scientists

Question 18

cons of the matrix

Answer 18

• not a decision tool but may be confused as one
• problems don’t slot into boxes
• hard to adjudicate when conflict of interest occurs
• limited by parameters of issues raised

Question 19

what do ethical disagreements include

Answer 19

• Factual disagreements
• Disagreements resulting form insufficiency info or evidence
• Disagreement about which norms or rules are applicable or relevant in the circumstance
• Disagreement about the relative weights or ranking of the relevant norms
• Disagreement about appropriate forms of specification or balance
• Presence of genuine moral dilemmas
• Scope disagreements about who should be protected by a moral norm
• Conceptual disagreements about a crucial moral norm

Question 20

working in accordance with your values is NOT about

Answer 20

being right