Chapter 1 Introduction to Ethics

Paternalism

A doctrine that literally means "rule by the father." In health care, it is the concept of physicians making decisions for their patients, whereas the more acceptable approach is autonomy, whereby the physician informs the patient as to the risks, benefits, and alternatives to care and treatment and then the patient makes the final choice as to what is best.

Consequential theory

A moral theory that determines good or bad, right or wrong, based on good outcomes or consequences.

Ethics

A set of principles of right and wrong conduct; a theory or system of moral values, of what is right and what is wrong. Ethics is a system of values that guides behavior in relationships among people in accordance with certain social rules.

Code of ethics

Certain 'values' and moral standards written into a formal document

Beneficence

Describes the principle of doing good, demonstrating kindness, and helping others

Autonomy

Right of an individual to make this or her own independent decisions

Justice

The obligation to be fair in the distribution of benefits and risks

Metaethics

The study of ethical concepts

Bioethics

also called biomedical ethics; the moral dilemmas and issues of advanced medicine and medical research

Descriptive ethics

also known as comparative ethics, deals with what people believe to be right and wrong.

Ethical theories

and principles introduce order into the way people think about life.

Honesty

and trust involve confidence that a person will act with the right motives.

Ethical principles

are universal rules of conduct, derived from ethical theories that provide a practical basis for identifying what kinds of actions, intentions, and motives are valued.

Employment-related paternalism

at its best is shared and cooperative style of management in which the employer recognizes and considers employee rights when making decisions in the workplace.

Nonconsequential ethical theory

denies that the consequences of an action or rule are the only criteria for determining the morality of an action or rule.

Situational ethics

describes how a particular situation may influence how one's reaction and values may change in order to cope with changing circumstances.

Deontological ethics

focuses on one's duties to others. It includes telling the truth and keeping your promises. Deontology is an ethical analysis according to a moral code or rules.

Virtue ethics

focuses on the inherent character of a person rather than on the specific actions he or she performs.

Conscientiousness

having moral integrity and a strict regard for doing what is considered the right thing to do.

Spirituality

implies that there is purpose and meaning to life, spirituality generally refers to faith in a higher being.

Moral dilemmas

in the health care setting often arise when values, rights, duties, and loyalties conflict.

Hopefulness

in the patient care setting involves looking forward to something with the confidence of success.

Macroethics

involves a more generalized view of right and wrong.

Microethics

involves an individual's view of what is right and wrong based on his or her life experiences.

Medical paternalism

involves making choices for (or forcing choices on) patients who are capable of choosing for themselves. It directly violates patient autonomy.

Truth telling

involves providing enough information so that a patient can make an informed decision about his or her health care.

Kindness

involves the quality of being considerate and sympathetic to another's needs.

Distributive justice

is a principal requiring that all persons be treated equally and fairly.

Respect

is an attitude of admiration or esteem.

Secular ethics

is based on codes developed by societies that have relied on custom to formulate their code

Veracity

is devotion to and conformity with what is truthful

Virtues

is normally defined as some sort of moral excellence or beneficial quality. In traditional ethics, virtues are characteristics that differentiate good people from bad people.

Intrinsic value

is something that has value in and of it's self (e.g. happiness)

Values

is something that has worth.

Instrumental value

is something that helps to give value to something else (e.g. money is valuable for what it can buy)

Discernment

is the ability to make a good decision without personal biases, fears, and undue influences from others.

Fairness

is the ability to make judgement free from discrimination, dishonesty, one's own bias

Normative ethics

is the attempt to determine what moral standards should be followed so that human behavior and conduct may be morally right.

Commitment

is the basis of morality

Compassion

is the deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering

Courage

is the mental or moral strength to persevere and withstand danger.

Freedom

is the quality of being free to make choices for oneself within the boundaries of law.

Moral values

is the relative worth placed on some virtuous behavior

Ethical relativism

is the theory that holds that morality is relative to the norms of one's culture.

Fidelity

loyalty and faithfulness to others

Nonmaleficence

means "first do no harm"

Detachment

or lack of concern for the patient's needs

Tolerance

respect for those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, or nationality differ from our own

Religious ethics

serves a moral purpose by providing codes of conduct for appropriate behavior through revelations from a divine source.

Applied Ethics

the practical application of moral standards to the conduct of individuals involved in organizations

Cooperation

the process of working with others

Morality

the quality of being virtuous or practicing the right conduct

Integrity

the unwavering adherence to one's principles; dedication to maintaining high standards

Moral judgements

those judgments concerned with what an individual or group believes to be the right or proper behavior in a given situation.