Nursing Ethics Flashcards
What are the different levels of nursing ethics?
(Theoretical and foundational end)
Ethical theories Moral principles or ideals Codes of ethics, policy, and laws Moral judgments
(Applied End)
Can you give examples of the things at each level? o How do the levels relate to one another?
Ex. Autonomy
Ethical theory - Autonomy
Moral principle- people have the right to self determination
Code- Patient has the right to self determination
Moral judgement- I should to respect the choice of my patient to refuse care if he has all the relevant info and is of sound mind.
What are the three levels of moral judgment identified by Thomas and
Waluchow?
Expressive level: “unanalyzed expressions or feelings which, in themselves, do not constitute any kind of justification or reason …” (5).
Pre-reflective level: formulating judgements by reference to conventional values, rules, and principles accepted uncritically
Reflective: At this level of response our moral judgements are not based entirely on conventional norms blindly accepted, but on principles, rules, and values to which we ourselves consciously subscribe and … are prepared to offer reasoned moral defence.” (6)
Which level of moral judgment do we aim to develop proficiency at in this
class? Why?
Reflective
So we can offer a reasoned defence for our actions!
We aim at acquiring knowledge and skill with the tools and methods of ethics. Reasonable people can still disagree at the reflective level!
Moral concepts are frequently assigned vague and even contradictory meanings in the everyday (25).
What is an ethical theory
Ethical theories are the outcome of critical reflection by philosophers on moral evaluations of right, wrong, good and bad.
“Ethical theories seek to articulate deep reasons or rationales for judgments about how we ought and ought not to act” (50).
Name 6 moral principles
beneficence, autonomy, truthfulness, confidentiality, justice, and integrity
What distinguishes theories about morality (the “masqueraders” from genuine ethical theories?
The main problem with the masqueraders seems to be that they try describe the truth.
Ethical theories try to tell us what is the right and the good.
What is egoism?
What’s the objection to the theory?
Egoism: the only motive for human behaviour is rational self-interest.
Doing something because it’s right or good is therefore out of order or out of the question.
Objection: does not seem to fit the facts.
It is hard to find an obvious or hidden motive for many apparently moral acts. Consider the case of Socrates, mentioned last time.
What is relativism?
What’s the objection to the theory?
Relativism: moral judgments, principles, and ideals are relative to some person, culture, or group, and have validity only for that group (46).
Is often connected up with “humility and toleration” for the views of others, and a condemnation of moral imperialism (47).
Objection: seems to eliminate the possibility of moral criticism from person to person, culture to culture, or group to group.
Live and let live is a tough bullet to bite when people, cultures, or groups differ significantly.
What is Consequentialism?
the view that the rightness or wrongness of an act depends on, and only on, the consequences of that act
What is utilitarianism?
A type of consequentialism that tells us to maximize good consequences and minimize bad consequences.
What are some principles/theories within Utilitarianism?
Related Classical theory of good and bad
“The Greatest Happiness Principle holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness” (John Stuart Mill at 54)
Principle of Equality: no one’s happiness is more important than anyone else’s
Theory of obligation: maximize the good consequences, minimize the bad consequences.
Theory of value: happiness (whomever feels it) distinguishes good consequences from bad.
Objections to utilitarianism?
Case that show it is inadequate?
Hard to accurately measure consequences
Hard to measure happiness
EX. Secret organ tranplant case
EX. Torture one little girl for the happiness of all mankind
How might you fix problem bought up by organ transplant case?
Assess consequences of rules not individual acts
