Quiz 1 material Flashcards
Ethics
Ethics: study of moral status of actions using theories and principles
Morality
Morality: standards of behavior involving right and wrong actions
What is deontology?
- “Duty based ethics” - regardless of consequences; do the “right thing”
- Highest virtue comes from doing what one is supposed to do Involved truth telling and keeping promises
- Following the law
What is consequentialism?
- Moral issues should be resolved by examining the consequences of available alternatives
- Utilitarianism is dominant theory
- Theory that actions are judged by their utility (evaluated according to the usefulness of their consequences)
- Belief that it is useful to society to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people who may be affected by an action
Utilitarian decision making
- Consider the available options
- Determine who will be affected by the actions in each option
- Determine which option provides the greatest happiness to all persons impacted
- Ties into justice and fairness
- Duty alone is not the primary factors
What is natural law theory?
- The rightness of actions is self evident because morality is implanted in the order of nature and divine decree and not revealed through customs and preferences
- Good is to be done and evil avoided, and are seen as being self evident (life, procreation, knowledge, society, and reasonable conduct)
What is Virtue?
Virtue: Moral excellence or a beneficial quality in a person. In traditional ethics, virtues are characteristics that differentiate good people from bad people
What is virtue ethics?
- Virtue ethics focuses on the inherent character of a person rather than on the specific actions he or she possess.
- Judging character to determine what they deserve.
- Good v bad.
What are the four cardinal virtues?
Wisdom Courage Temperance Justice
What is ethics of care?
- Explores how a caring person would attempt to solve a moral problem with concern for establishing and preserving good relationship and helping others.
- Role of emotions is a necessary and natural complement to rational thinking
- Self-sacrifice for others
What is principlism?
Theory that tries to connect various moral perspective with bioethical decision making
Grounded in 4 key principles.
What is bioethics?
Ethics as it relates to healthcare
4 key principles of principlism?
- Autonomy
- Beneficence
- Nonmaleficence
- Justice
What is autonomy?
- The right to choose what will happen to one’s own person.
- Negative right - can say no to that (treatment)
- The freedom and ability to act in a self-determined manner
- Linkage to informed consent and privacy HIPPA and Patient self determination act
What is beneficence?
- Performing deeds of “mercy, kindness and charity”
- Preventing harm and removing conditions that cause harm
- Implies taking actions to benefit and promote the welfare of other people
- Acting in the best interest of a patient.
- Weighing whether the benefits outweigh the negatives.
