Moral Theories & Ethical Principles

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    Moral Theories and Ethical

    PrinciplesBy

    Christopher O. Agulanna

    MA (Lagos), MAE (Linkoping), MA (Utrecht), PhD (Ibadan)

    Department of Philosophy, University of Ibadan

    Lecture delivered

    At a 2 Day Course in

    Medical Ethics

    Organized by West African College of Physicians

    2nd 3rd June, 2011

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    What is ethics?

    Ethics, otherwise known as moral

    philosophy derives from the Greek word

    ethikos, which means custom

    Ethics is the branch of philosophy that

    addresses questions about moralitythat is,

    concepts such as good and evil, right and

    wrong, virtue and vice, justice, etc.

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    What is ethics?

    Ethics is the systematic study of morality

    The relationship between ethics and morality is

    similar to that between logic and thinking or that

    between theology and religion

    In each of the cases, the latter is the basis of theformer

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    Aim

    Ethics aims to achieve two fundamental

    objectives:

    (i) to tell us how we ought to act in a given

    situation, and

    (ii) to provide us with strong reasons fordoing so

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    Ethics and morality

    Ethics and morality are closely related:

    Morality refers to a set of duties that require

    us to subordinate our natural instincts in order

    to obey the moral law. A failure to fulfill our

    duty brings with it a heavy sense of guilt.

    Very often, morality is assumed to have a

    religious basis an assumption that is not

    always correct.

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    Ethics and morality

    Ever before we began studying ethics, we

    already have a sense of morality, with what it

    means to say of a thing that it is good or bad,

    right or wrong, etc.

    Ethics is the systematic study of the

    fundamental principles underlying our

    morality.

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    Ethics and morality

    Just as logic is the systematic study of the

    fundamental principles of correct thinking,

    and theology is the systematic study of the

    fundamental tenets of religion, ethics is the

    systematic reflection on our moral values or

    beliefs

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    Definition of ethics

    Ethics has been defined in various:

    It can be defined as the branch of philosophy which

    deals with the morality of human actions

    As the branch of philosophy which studies the

    norms of human behaviour

    The systematic study of the fundamental principles

    of the moral law The normative science of human conduct

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    Branches of ethics

    Four major branches:

    i. Normative ethics, also known as prescriptive ethics

    - This branch of ethics actually judges morality.

    Normative judgments are value judgments: theyindicate whether something is good or bad.

    Example: To proclaim that abortion is right or

    wrong; that advanced directive is good or bad;that euthanasia is morally good or bad, etc.

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    Branches of ethics

    ii. Meta-ethics: This is the branch of ethics that

    concerns itself with the analysis or elucidation

    of ethical concepts or ideas, e.g., what do the

    terms good, bad, right, wrong, evil,

    moral obligation, etc, signify? How may we

    define a good action?

    Meta-ethics is also known as analytic moral

    philosophy

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    Branches of ethics

    iii. Applied ethics: The attempt to apply ethical theoryto real life situations. The discipline has many

    specialized fields, such as Engineering Ethics,

    bioethics and business ethics.

    It involves the investigation of specific questions that

    have elicited ethical controversies, such as end of life

    issues, in vitro fertilization, environmental

    degradation, world poverty, how to deal with

    conflicts arising from our multi-cultural world, etc.

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    Different senses

    Ethics can be understood in two ways: First, it refers to well-founded standards of right and

    wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do,

    usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to

    society, fairness, or specific virtues.

    The word ethics is sometimes used to refer to the set

    of rules, principles, or ways of thinking that guide, orclaim authority to guide, the actions of a particular

    group; and sometimes it stands for the systematic

    study of reasoning about how we ought to act.

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    Ethical theories

    Ethical theories and principles are the foundations ofethical analysis

    It is to them we turn to obtain guidance when seeking

    to make ethical decisions on any matter However, in order for an ethical theory to be useful, the

    theory must be directed towards a common set of goals

    Ethical principles are the common goals that each

    theory tries to achieve in order to be successful. These

    goals include beneficence, least harm, respect for

    autonomy and justice.

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    Ethical principles

    A principle is a rule of a general nature

    An ethical or moral principle (dictionary meaning) is:1. the principles of right and wrong that are accepted

    by an individual or a social group;

    2. the principle that conduct should be moral

    Some moral principles are general, others particular

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    Ethical principles

    General moral/ethical principles make some general

    statement about what is morally right or wrong, or

    good or bad, or what we should or ought, or

    shouldn't or ought not toExamples:

    Thou shalt not kill.

    You should not take what does not belong to youwithout permission of the owner.

    If you make a promise, you ought to keep it.

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    Moral judgments

    Particular moral judgments

    Not all moral judgments are general principles. Some

    are about specifics.

    Examples:

    John was wrong in aiding Foluke to abort her baby.

    Hitler was an evil person.

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    The role of general moral principles in moral argument

    General moral principles can serve as the major

    premise of a moral argument.

    For example,

    Killing is wrong.

    Capital punishment is killing.

    Therefore, capital punishment is wrong.

    The concern here is not whether the premises are true or

    acceptable but to highlight the role of the general moral

    principle in moral argumentation.

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    What ethics is not

    Ethics is not a manual with answers on how to act. It

    is only a search for the right kind of morality.

    Ethics is not a matter of following ones feelings It is not to be identified with religion

    Being ethical is not the same as following the law

    Again, being ethical is not the same as doing

    "whatever society accepts"

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    Ethics a recapitulation

    What, then, is it?

    It can mean any of the following:

    A well-founded standards of right and wrong that

    prescribe what humans ought to do, usually interms of rights, obligations, benefits to society,

    fairness, or specific virtues. Ethics, for example,

    refers to those standards that impose the

    reasonable obligations to refrain from such vices as

    rape, stealing, murder, assault, slander, and fraud.

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    Ethical standards also include those that enjoin

    virtues of honesty, compassion, and loyalty.

    These include standards relating to rights, such

    as the right to life, the right to freedom from

    injury, and the right to privacy. Such standards

    are adequate standards of ethics because they

    are supported by consistent and well-foundedreasons.

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    Secondly, ethics refers to the study anddevelopment of one's ethical standards. Here, we

    should note that feelings, laws, and social norms

    can deviate from what is ethical.

    Hence, it is necessary that we constantly examine

    our standards to ensure that they are reasonableand well-founded.

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    Ethics - theory vs. praxis

    In this wise, ethics involves the continuous effort

    of studying our own moral beliefs and our

    moral conduct, and striving to ensure that we,

    and the institutions we help to shape, live up

    to standards that are reasonable and solidly-

    based.

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    The role of theories

    Like science, ethical discourse is guided by theories

    and principles. Some theories, principles and

    methods that guide the scientific inquiry are:positivism, pragmatism, empiricism,

    instrumentalism, and probabilism. Others are the

    theories of induction and deduction, etc.

    The schema in the following slide shows the major

    theories in ethics

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    Ethical theories

    Ethical Theories

    Ethics of Conduct

    What sort of actionsshould we erform?

    Ethics of Character

    What sort of people

    should we be?

    Consequentialism

    The right action is the

    one that produces the

    most intrinsic good

    Deontology

    The good is defined

    independently of the

    right

    AristoteleanismVirtue is a mean

    between extremes of

    action or passion

    KantianismActions must satisfy

    the categorical

    imperative

    For everyone

    affected:

    Utilitarianism

    For the agent:

    Ethical

    Egoism

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    Ethical theories

    Should be clear

    Internally consistent and coherent Complete and comprehensive

    Simple

    Generally support ordinary judgment

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    Ethical theories

    There are two fundamental types of ethical

    theory:

    i. Consequentialist or utilitarian theory

    (teleology) Jeremy Bentham and John

    Stuart Mill

    ii. Deontological theory Immanuel Kant

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    Consequentialist theories

    Consequentialist theory is one sub class of

    teleological moral theory

    Consequentialism refers to moral theories that hold

    that the consequences of a particular action form thebasis for any valid moral judgment about that action

    (or create a structure or rule for judgment)

    Says the moral value of an act, rule or policy is to be

    found in the consequences, not in intentions or

    motives

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    Consequentialist theories

    From a consequentialist standpoint, a morally rightaction is one that produces a good outcome, or

    consequence.

    This view is often expressed in the maxim "The ends

    justify the means.

    The defining feature of consequentialist moral theories is

    the weight given to the consequences in evaluating the

    rightness and wrongness of actions.

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    Consequentialist theories

    According to this theory, the consequences of anaction or rule generally outweigh other

    considerations

    Some questions that consequentialist theories address:

    i. What sort of consequences count as good

    consequences?

    ii. Who is the primary beneficiary of moral action?

    iii. How are consequences judged and who judges

    them?

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    Utilitarianism

    Utilitarianism is the most influential consequentialist

    theory

    Formulated by Jeremy Bentham in the late 18th

    century and John Stuart Mill in the 19th century The utilitarian ethical theory is founded on the ability

    to predict the consequences of an action

    To a utilitarian, the choice that yields the greatest

    benefit to the most people is the choice that is

    ethically correct.

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    Utilitarianism

    There is only one basic principle in ethics, that

    of utility, the production of the greatest

    possible balance of value over disvalue for all

    persons affected The end justifies the means

    Promote the greatest good for the greatest

    number What is right is what is most useful

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    Utilitarianism

    Hedonistic utilitarians argue that the principle to

    judge our moral thinking is utility, that is, the

    maximisation of happiness, in the sense of pleasure,

    and the minimisation of suffering, in the sense ofpain.

    In any situation the morally right thing to do is the

    action that promotes the greatest happiness for the

    greatest number of people

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    Two types of utilitarianism

    i. Act utilitarianism considers the consequences of

    each act, ie whitelie

    A person performs the acts that benefit the most

    people, regardless of personal feelings or the societalconstraints such as laws

    ii. Rule utilitarianism - considers the general

    consequences of these kinds of acts, ie the rule that

    lying is generally bad for society. (Rules are

    considered valid only if their consequences are

    good overall)

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    Utilitarianism: an illustration

    In considering what is the right course of

    action/treatment in any healthcare situation, doctors

    tend initially to think about the consequences arisingfrom the different options. For example, in deciding

    whether in particular circumstances a breach of the

    duty of confidentiality is justified, the physician

    thinks of the consequences the harms of breachingthe duty and the harms of not warning others of a

    risk to their health.

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    Criticism

    A criticism of consequentialist theory is that it is so

    concerned with the ways in which the ends or goals are

    achieved it is so concerned with ends that it often

    overlooks the moral importance ofmeans. The utilitarian theory requires that the consequences of

    acts and policies be calculated.

    In many situations one cannot predict consequences

    with any certainty, making consequentialism

    probabilistic we forecast the consequences to the best

    of our ability.

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    Criticism

    A utilitarian is presumed to have the ability to

    compare the various types of consequences against

    each other on a similar scale. However, comparingmaterial gains such as money against intangible gains

    such as happiness is impossible since their qualities

    differ significantly

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    Criticism

    Utilitarianism has been charged with over-

    demandingness - that it does not allow for the

    existence of supererogation or heroes. For example,

    we are obligated to constantly behave so that themost people benefit regardless of the danger

    associated with an act. For instance, a utilitarian who

    sacrifices her life to save a train full of people is

    actually fulfilling an obligation to society rather thanperforming a selfless and laudable act.

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    Criticism

    Act utilitarianism is solely concerned with achieving

    the maximum good. The theory implies that an

    individual's rights may be infringed upon in order tobenefit a greater population. In other words, act

    utilitarianism is not always concerned with justice,

    beneficence or autonomy for an individual if

    oppressing the individual leads to the solution thatbenefits a majority of people.

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    Deontological Theory

    Deontology (from Greek deon,

    "obligation, duty) is an approach toethics that focuses on duty, rules and

    the intentions of the person doing

    the act, rather than third-partyconsequences of the act

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    Deontology

    Some features of an act other than its consequences

    makes it right or wrong. May be based in

    religious belief, natural law, common morality or

    other system.honesty beneficence

    fidelity nonmaleficence

    gratitude autonomyjustice privacy

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    Rules

    Rules of thumb

    Binding rules

    Absolute rules (eg,

    truth-telling)

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    Duty/obligation

    Deontological theory uses rule rather than

    consequences to justify an action or policy

    emphasis is on obligation or duty focuses on objectively obligatory rule

    General rule - do unto others as you will have

    them do unto you

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    Kantian duty ethics

    Kantianism is the most well known deontological

    theory of ethics

    Kant defended rules as do not lie, keep

    promises, do not kill on what he claimed were

    rational grounds

    Rules should comply with the categorical

    imperative

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    Kantianism

    The categorical imperative holds that:

    Moral rules should be universalisable i.e. applied

    to rational, moral members of the community

    rather than to just some All persons should be treated never simply as

    means but also always as ends in themselves

    Members of the moral community should take ahand in making the laws as well as living by them

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    Kantianism

    Kants ethics is an ethics of respect for persons

    One formulation of the CI that is crucially relevant in

    dealing with issues in biomedical ethics is the onethat tells us:

    Act in such a way that you always treat humanity,whether in your own person or in the person of any

    other, never simply as a means, but always at the

    same time as an end

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    Preliminary Questions

    What does it mean to treat an individual as an

    end?

    Is it always morally wrong for one person to

    use another as a means?

    Are there extenuating conditions to this rule?

    explain what such conditions would look like

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    Kantianism

    Modern Kantians still stress the importance of

    generally living by moral rules or laws. However,unlike Kant, many are not absolutist in their

    application of moral rules or laws

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    Importance of Kantian theory

    Kants ethical ideas continue to have great impact in

    ethical thinking till date. Mappes and De Grazia argue

    that his ethical theory remains the underlying

    framework of much argumentation in biomedica lethics today

    For example, Kant s theory i s manifested

    in the idea of a dut ies owed to a pat ientby the doctor the duty of care and the

    duty not to harm

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    Some difficulties

    Although deontology contains many positive

    attributes, it also contains its fair number of

    flaws:

    i. Provides no rationale or logical basis for

    deciding an individual's duties

    ii. Does not provide any guidance on how to

    resolve conflicting duties or obligations

    iii. Absolutism a big problem

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    Communitarianism

    Is a theoretical perspective that seeks to

    lessen the focus on individual rights and

    increase the focus on communal

    responsibilities

    Its central claim is the necessity of attending

    to community alongside, if not prior to,

    liberty, justice and equality

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    Communitarianism

    Communitarianism emerged in the 1980s as a response to

    the limits of liberal theory and practice

    Advocates the need to balance individual rights with

    social responsibilities Says individuals do not exist in isolation, but are shaped

    by the values and culture of communities

    Says we should begin to redress the balance toward the

    pole of community, or else our society will continue to

    become normless, self-centred, and driven by special

    interests and power seeking.

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    Communitarianism

    Communitarians believe that the value of

    community is not sufficiently recognized in

    liberal theories of justice, or in the public

    culture of liberal societies

    Says real emphasis should instead be on

    common shared practices, cultural traditions,

    and shared social understanding amongmembers of society

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    Communitarian ethics

    Grounds ethical thought in communal values,established social standards and traditions, and

    considerations of the larger society. Communitarians

    emphasize the influence of society on individuals and

    contend that values are rooted in common historyand tradition

    Believes that the good of individuals - their very

    identity and capacity for moral agency - is bound up

    with the communities they belong to

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    Three principles

    Communitarianism is based on three principles:

    First, that any claim of truth be validated through co-

    operative enquiry.

    Second, that communities of co-operative inquiry,

    which represent the spectrum of citizens, should

    validate common values that become the basis of

    mutual responsibilities of all community members. Third, that all citizens should have equal access and

    participation in the power structure of society.

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    A central premise

    Is the recognition of societyas a web of intersecting

    communities with differingmoral values and standards

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    Community as a focal point

    The key to resolving ethical questions and conflicts

    lies in respect for local values that demonstrate

    careful deliberation and local community

    acceptance.

    Holds that he system of moral rules of a particular

    community is best understood in the context of thatcommunity's current historical view of social welfare

    and related social interests.

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    The common good as an ideal

    Communitarianism downplays the values of

    individuality, autonomy, and personal rights,

    so prevalent in other ethical theories, in

    favour of a focus on the virtues and actions

    that support the interests of society as a

    whole

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    Role in health care

    Communitarian thought contributes

    immensely to ethical discussion in the health

    care context.

    This is particularly true with respect to issues

    such as the best use of limited health care

    resources, health care as a right, and the

    concept of healthy communities versus anemphasis on individual health.

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    Strength

    Strengths of the communitarian perspective

    include the emphasis on strong connections

    between people, encouragement of

    collaboration, diminished emphasis on self-

    serving individualism, and sacrifice for the

    greater good as a measure of character.

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    Weakness

    On the negative side, many would question

    how realistic it is to achieve a common set of

    global, or even local, values.

    We should also be concerned with the

    potential of the theory to erode individual

    rights

    As a theory, communitarianism provides no

    systematic method for resolving ethical

    conflicts

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    Liberal individualism

    Rights-based

    What is a right?

    i. A right is a claim that can be made on society on

    moral or legal grounds

    ii. Moral rights are claims justified by moral rules

    iii. Positive rights require anothers action

    iv. Negative rights require anothers forbearance

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    Permissible murder?

    A doctor kills a deteriorating and suffering

    patient using an undetectable method. The

    patients family is relieved of financial and

    psychological stress, and the patient isrelieved of suffering.

    Who benefits?

    Who suffers?What is the balance?

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    Permissible murder?

    Same as the last case (euthanasia), except through an

    unlikely chain of circumstance, the doctors act is

    discovered. He goes to jail after a very painful trial.

    Who benefits?Who suffers?

    What is the balance?

    Is the morality or ethical value of the actaltered by the outcome?

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    Moral dilemma

    You are a 1940s doctor in charge of a hospital in

    which you are treating Jewish patients. Nazi

    soldiers come and ask you if you have any

    such patients. How do you respond if honesty is a rule of

    thumb?

    How do you respond if honesty is a bindingrule?

    How do you respond if honesty is an absolute

    rule?

    Moral dilemma

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    Moral dilemma

    In 1973, the US Supreme Court made a landmark ruling inthe legal case Roe v. Wade, allowing that a woman may

    procure abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy,

    without the approval of the father, government, or any

    other authority. In 1977, the Court ruled thatgovernment does not have to pay for abortions.

    Explain the apparent paradox

    What rights are involved in these decisions? How might your personal ethical theory impact your

    approach to abortion?

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    Emphasis on rights

    Liberal theories emphasize the role of choice,

    individual liberty, and freedom from government

    interference in private matters

    Rights refer to legal, social, or ethical principles of

    freedom or entitlement - they are the fundamental

    normative rules about what is allowed of people or

    owed to people, according to some legal system,

    social convention, or ethical theory.

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    Ethics of care

    Care ethics is a new ethical theory.

    Believes that the development of morals is not

    caused by learning moral principles. Instead,

    people should learn norms and values in

    specific contexts.

    Views other people as of fundamental

    importance and worthy of our respect.

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    Ethics of care

    By contacting other people, and by placing

    yourself in their shoes, you learn what is good

    or bad at a particular time.

    The solution of moral problems must alwaysbe focused on maintaining the relationships

    between people.

    The connectedness of people is the key tomoral progress

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    Four Principles

    Earlier, we mentioned that in order for an ethical

    theory to be useful, the theory must be directed

    towards a common set of goals. Ethical principles are

    the common goals that each theory tries to achievein order to be successful.

    In what follows, we discuss four important ethical

    principles: respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence,

    beneficence, justice.

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    Respect for autonomy

    Respecting the decision-making capacities of

    autonomous persons

    Tell the truth

    Respect others privacy

    Protect confidential information

    allow individuals to make reasoned informed

    choices Obtain consent for interventions

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    Nuremberg Code, Rule 1

    Legal capacity to give consent

    Free power of choice

    Sufficient knowledge and comprehension

    nature, duration, purpose

    methods and means

    inconveniences and hazards

    long term effects

    responsibility of experimenter to ensure

    autonomy is respected

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    Non maleficence:

    Healthcare professional should avoid the

    causation of harm to patient

    do not kill

    do not cause pain or suffering to others

    do not incapacitate others

    do not cause offense to others

    do not deprive others of the goods of life

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    Nuremberg Code

    Rule 4:

    The experiment should be so conducted as to avoid all

    unnecessary physical and mental suffering and injury.

    Rule 5: Experiment should not be conducted where there is an a

    priori reason to believe that death or disabling injury will

    occur...

    Rule 5: Degree of risk should be minimal.

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    Beneficence

    Provide benefits and balance benefits against

    risks and harm

    protect and defend the rights of others

    prevent harm to others

    remove conditions that will cause others harm

    help disabled persons

    rescue persons in danger

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    Hippocratic Oath

    One basic principle in the Oath is:

    do no harm

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    Justice

    Distribute benefits, risks, and costs fairly

    to each an equal share

    to each according to effort

    to each according to need

    to each according to contribution

    to each according to merit

    Applying the Four Principles

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    Applying the Four Principles

    Mrs Y is 56 years old and has a learning disability. She is

    admitted to hospital with an ovarian cyst. The cyst is blocking

    her ureter and if left untreated will result in renal failure.

    Mrs Y would need an operation to remove the cyst.

    Mrs Y has indicated quite clearly that she does not want a

    needle inserted for the anaesthetic for the operation to

    remove the cyst- she is uncomfortable in a hospital setting

    and is frightened of needles.

    Applying the Four Principles

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    Applying the Four Principles

    The clinician is concerned that if the cyst is not removed Mrs Y

    will develop renal failure and require dialysis which wouldinvolve the regular use of needles and be very difficult to

    carry out given her fear of needles and discomfort with

    hospitals.

    The anaesthetist is concerned that if Mrs Y does not comply

    with the procedure then she would need to be physically

    restrained.

    Mrs Y's niece visits her in the care home every other month.

    The niece is adamant that her aunt should receive treatment.

    Question

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    Question

    Should the surgeon perform the operation despite

    Mrs Ys objections?

    How would you apply the Four Principles to this

    case?

    See The UK Ethics Network, The Ethox Centre, Department of Public Health and

    Primary Health Care. The four principles approach. Available at:

    http://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-

    principles-approach

    http://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approachhttp://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approach
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    Resources

    Government of Canada, Context of an Ethical Framework,

    Available on

    http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/english/policystatement/context.

    cfm (accessed on August 28, 2008) Andre J. Bioethics as practice The University of North Carolina

    Press, 2002

    Medical Ethics Manual, World Medical Association, 2005

    McGee G. Thirty years of bioethics. New Review of Bioethics2003;1(1):7-13

    Levitt M, Williams G. Thirty years of bioethics: all grown up

    now? New Review of Bioethics 2003;1(1):3-5

    http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/english/policystatement/context.cfmhttp://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/english/policystatement/context.cfmhttp://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/english/policystatement/context.cfmhttp://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/english/policystatement/context.cfm
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    Resources

    Widdows H, Dickenson D, Hellsten S. Global bioethics NewReview of Bioethics 2003;1(1):101-116

    McKneally M. What is an ethic? University of Toronto

    Adebamowo CA. Ethical issues in cancer research. 2005

    Ogundiran TO. Enhancing the African bioethics initiative BMC

    Medical Education 2004; 4(21):1-6

    Schklenk U. Introduction to research ethics. Developing

    World Bioethics 2005; 5(1):1471-8847 (online)

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