Ethics Week 2- Ethical Matrix and other tools for defining ethical problems

Question 0

Define autonomy

Answer 0

The right for an individual to make own choice

Question 1

What are Beauchamp and Childress’ four principles?

Answer 1

Autonomy, beneficence, non-malefience and justice

Question 2

Define beneficence

Answer 2

Working with the best interest of others in mind - this is a core value via the Veterinary Oath

Question 3

Define non-malefience

Answer 3

Do no harm (except surgery) e.g. The Hippocratic oath

Question 4

Define the justice principle

Answer 4

Emphasises fairness among individuals, even harder than medicine to apply in veterinary

Question 5

Are vet nurses a professional?

Answer 5

No, they must be REGISTERED veterinary nurses to be officially allowed to call themselves a professional

Question 6

Define substituted judgement

Answer 6

Consideration for the individuals opinion when it can’t be taken from them directly.

Question 7

Define deontology

Answer 7

Interested in the actions only, only approves those actions that can be universalised, gives us the Act/Omission, doctrine of double effect

Question 8

What is the doctrine of double effect?

Answer 8

You are doing one thing for a good cause but it may have a negative effect.

Question 9

Define distributive justice

Answer 9

Refers to the fair, appropriate or equitable distribution of resources between members of society based on needs, merits and equality

Question 10

What is the ‘veil of ignorance’?

Answer 10

Only being aware of pertinent facts to make a decision where other factors may cloud your judgement

Question 11

Define ‘distributive justice’

Answer 11

Refers to the fair, appropriate or equitable distribution of resources between members of society based on needs, merits and equality

Question 12

What is Kantian Deontology?

Answer 12

= deontology

Question 13

What are the different ethical theories discussed so far?

Answer 13

Utilitarianism
Kantian deontology
4 medical ethical principle of Beauchamp and Childress
Rawlsian Justice

Question 14

Explain what the apprenticeship model of veterinary education is….

Answer 14

Watch and repeat

Question 15

How does your ethical reasoning develop (child to adult)?

Answer 15

Based on critical internal reflection based on rational enquiry

Question 17

Who designed the bioethical matrix framework?

Answer 17

Ben Mepham. It separates ethical theories and affected beings so that the cells contain the arguments. Doesn’t answer the problem though. Different weights may be put on the different arguments and affected beings based on the in question society’s values

Question 18

What is the Ethical Matrix based on?

Answer 18

3 ethical principles; respect for:
wellbeing (utilitarianism)
autonomy (deontology)
justice (medical principle)

These 3 principles are not mutually exclusive and cannot exhaust every legitimate ethical concern. But most ethical concerns can be expressed as one of these 3 principles.

Question 19

Define ‘common morality’

Answer 19

the norms and assumptions that underpin contemporary society

Question 20

What are disadvantages of adopting a utilitarian approach? 3

Answer 20

• depend on predicitions of outcome (which may be wrong) and (fallible) assessments of who or what counts in the cost/benefit analyses
• they can be held to justify gross inequality (as long as the majority are happy) or even crime (stolen money distributed to the needy)
• goods and harms are often incommensurable

Question 21

What does a ‘reflective equilibrium’ describe?

Answer 21

that all theories are likely to contribute, to varying degrees, to people’s attitudes on what should be done in specific circumstances - it seems unlikely that anyone could consistently act as an out-and-out utilitarian or an out-and-out Kantian. It is a blend which gives intuitive responses and cultural influences to achieve ‘reflective equilibrium’

Question 22

What do the rows of the ethical matrix consist of?

Answer 22

‘interest’ groups’ (e.g. different groups of human but also non-humans). They must posses ‘ethical standing’ decided by common morality. Usually limited to four interest groups

Question 23

What are the main strengths of the ethical matrix?

Answer 23

• doesn’t constrain users to follow a single ethical theory or to prioritise one principle
• focuses deliberation onto key concerns
• makes abstract principles concrete and relevant to people who may well have limited interest in ethical theory
• highlights the different implications of a particular decision for different stakeholders and helps decision-makers to find a solution in light of conflicts, rather than giving a false impression of consensus

Question 24

Define utilitariansim

Answer 24

interested in the consequences
aim to increase pleasure (for greatest number) and decrease pain
refined versions include ‘rule utilitarianism’

Question 25

Define deontology

Answer 25

interested in the actions only
only approves actions that can be universalised
gives us the Act/Omission
Doctrine of Double Effect (you are doing one thing for a good cause but it may have a negative effect)

Question 26

Define autonomy

Answer 26

difficult to define for animals –> substituted judgement? (consideration for an individual’s opinion when it can’t be taken from them directly)