week 2: rhodes reading

Question 1

what were the main themes of the reading?

Answer 1

1. moral conflict in clinical ethics
   - often involves competing principles (autonomy vs beneficence)
2. systematic approach to ethical decision-making
   - he presented a template
3. importance of trust and professionalism
   - physicians must act in a way to uphold trust in the profession

Question 2

7 Steps of Rhode’s ethical decision-making

Answer 2

1. collecting relevant data
2. identifying the duties involves
3. identifying conflicting duties
4. formulating a central ethical question
5. deciding which duty should take priority
6. seeking consensus
7. implementing and communicating the decision

Question 3

1. collecting relevant data

Answer 3

○ Gather medical facts, patient preferences, legal considerations, and institutional policies.
○ Consider moral imagination—understanding the patient’s experience from their perspective.

Question 4

2. Identifying the Duties Involved

Answer 4

some examples:

• Respect for autonomy (honoring patient decisions).
• Nonmaleficence (avoiding harm).
• Beneficence (acting in the patient’s best interest).
• Justice (fair allocation of resources).

Question 5

3. identifying conflicting duties

Answer 5

Ethical dilemmas occur when duties provide opposing guidance (e.g., autonomy vs. beneficence).

Question 6

4. Formulating a Central Ethical Question

Answer 6

Example: Should a physician override a patient’s refusal of life-saving treatment?

Question 7

5. Deciding Which Duty Should Take Priority

Answer 7

Physicians must justify their choice based on:
- Patient well-being
- Ethical principles
- Professional

Question 8

6. Seeking Consensus

Answer 8

Ethical dilemmas are best resolved through team discussions and interdisciplinary input.

Question 9

7. Implementing and Communicating the Decision

Answer 9

• Planning practical steps for execution.
• Ensuring clear communication with medical staff, patients, and families.

Question 10

Beauchamp & Childress’ Four Principles of Biomedical Ethics

Answer 10

Autonomy: Patients’ right to make decisions.
Beneficence: Acting in patients’ best interests.
Nonmaleficence: Do no harm.
Justice: Fairness in care delivery.

Question 11

12 Duties of Medical Ethics (Rhodes, 2020)

Answer 11

1. Seek Trust and Be Deserving of It
2. Use Medical Knowledge, Skills, and Privileges to Benefit Patients and Society
3. Develop and Maintain Professional Competence
4. Provide Care Based on Need
5. Be Mindful in Responding to Medical Needs
6. Base Clinical Decisions on Scientific Evidence
7. Maintain Nonjudgmental Regard Toward Patients
8. Respect Patient Autonomy
9. Maintain Patient Confidentiality
10. Assess Patients’ Decisional Capacity
11. Ensure Justice in the Allocation of Medical Resources
12. Be Truthful in Medical Communication

Question 12

Rawls’ Reflective Equilibrium

Answer 12

Ethical decisions should align with shared professional values in medicine

• coherence between moral principles and specific judgments
• balance between theoretical frameworks, medical realities, and professional norms

Question 13

Gert, Clouser, & Culver’s Systematic Bioethics Approach

Answer 13

Decision-making must be justified by ethical principles, not personal feelings

Question 14

Case of Mrs. H.T.

Answer 14

○ A terminally ill patient’s sister insisted on providing care in a non-standard way.
○ The dilemma: Should the medical team override the surrogate’s actions or allow them?
○ Resolution: Since the patient had accepted her sister’s care before, the intervention was deemed unnecessary.