Ethics Week 1: The Ethical Spectrum Flashcards
When was the RCVS formed?
1844
What is veterinary ethics?
It embraces all the behaviours of vets and their decisions in practice.
What was the current veterinary surgeons act made?
1966
Describe a Thomas Hobbes social contract
Like in medicine, so that in exchange for the restriction of acts of veterinary surgery to the profession, veterinarians must act in the interests of its society and its members.
Describe how the ‘bargain’ was made in e Veterinary Surgeons Act 1881?
In exchange for it being made ilelegal for anyone other than an individual on the RCVS register to receive payment for veterinary work, it was a requirement for the profession to deal with the conduct that was disgraceful in a professional respect.
Describe rollin’s societal warning to vets
You regulate yourselves the way we would regulate you if we understood in detail what you do, but if you violate this charge and trust we will know and hammer you down with draconian rules
What do many politicians think about professional regulation?
That external regulation can enforce professional behaviours, in the interests of society, whatever the natural inclination of the individual (this is assumed to be self-interest)
Describe the three features of how professionalism is viewed as an ethical concept in medicine
Altruism, competence and integrity
How is veterinary ethics massively different to medical ethics?
The triangular clinician-patient-client relationship
What is the paediatrician and garage mechanic analogy?
Paediatrician - tends to advocate for the patient who cannot speak for themselves so will prioritise their perception of the needs of the patient over the wishes of the client.
Garage mechanic - focused on e client and is much more likely to try to match their diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to he wishes of the client.
There are gender and age differences in which predominates.
What is agency theory?
A. Branch of economics that relates to conflicts of interest between individuals who have different interests in an asset
What should a collaborative framework recognise?
With the clinician and the client resolving how much responsibility e client wants to take and how much they should take
What other issues should vets be wary of?
Use of unproven remedies by vets
Provision of a diagnosis to a client wanting an answer in the absence of adequate evidence to support a conclusion.
What is a deontological perspective?
One that highlights the interests of the individual. It is a rights base approach. I.e. We should judge actions as being right or wrong within themselves.
What is a utilitarian perspective?
One that maximises benefit for all involved
What is a contractarian approach?
“Morality is based on agreement”
What is a utilitarian approach?
Morality is about maximising human and animal well being
What is a relational approach?
“Morality grows out of our relationship with animals and one another”
What is an animal rights approach?
“Good results cannot justify evil means”
What is a respect for nature approach?
We have a duty to protect not just individual animals but the species to which hey belong - in particular the integrity of each species.
Suggest some relevant activity domains to e veterinary profession
Client, self, profession, society
How many people voted in RCVS council votes?
15.1% vets and 7.5% nurses - this is slightly above the national vote rate
Which aspect of malconduct carries the highest charge in the veterinary profession?
Dishonesty
How are virtue ethics defined?
Non-technical (respect for nature, commitment to public good etc)
Technical
What is whistleblowing? Examples?
Where a member of the profession draws attention to something that they don’t agree with that is happening within that profession. Bristol baby scandal and Dr Stephen Bolsin. Also the nursing scandal at the Royal Sussex Hospital where Maragaret Haywood, a nurse, provide an undercover film for panorama and in April 2009 was struck off the register for breaching confidentiality. Following the showing of the panorama film in October 2009 and the subsequent public outcry, she was reinstated and sentence was changed to a one-year caution.
What is a consequentialist view?
E.g. Jeremy Bentham an utilitarian. Beings are under the governance of 2 sovereign masters (pleasure and pain). Every being can count s one and no being can count as more than one. The greatest good for the greatest number.
Outline the felicific calculus (7)
Intensity Duration Certainty or uncertainty Propinquity or remoteness Fecundity Purity Extent
You will apply this to all decisions you make!
