Ethics Soft Chalk Modules
One of the moral rules is that we should not cheat. Which of the following would then be considered an immoral act. a. Texting answers to a classmate during a quiz b. Manipulating cards while playing solitaire c. Acquiring a copy of a test prior to the exam date d. A and B e. A and C f. A, B and C
e; Cheating involves "breaking rules of the game to gain an advantage over other participants in the game." (Gert,p44)Texting answers or stealing a test prior to the exam will give those individuals an unfair advantage over other students, and therefore would be cheating (immoral act). Moral rules prohibit or require behavior that affects others. Manipulating cards when playing solitaire isn't gaining an advantage over another person, so it isn't considered an immoral act. (assumption: you're not in some kind of solitaire tournament)
systematic reflection on what makes an action "good" or "bad".
ethics
practice that is grounded in relationships intended to build others' potential
ethics of care
an explanation advocating that a person cannot be blamed for violating a moral rule
excuse
excuse or justification: my alarm didn't go off
excuse
excuse or justification: my car broke down
excuse
moral rules tell you why the action you're taking is right or wrong
false; Moral rules tell us what to do but not the why of doing an action. For example, moral rules would simply say, "Don't lie," but the reason behind it is because lying disrespects the person which violates the ethical principle of veracity. Explaining/defending an action is the role of ethical principles as part of normative ethical theory.
in current healthcare system, patients expect the healthcare providers will act in a paternalistic manner (T/F)
false; Patients today expect the decisions they make regarding their dental/ medical treatment be respected by the dentist/doctor. Although part of the patient - doctor relationship since the time of Hippocrates, paternalism is no longer considered acceptable. We must respect the patient's autonomy, including their right to make poor decisions (at least in the view of a professional)
keeping promises
fidelity
a process of communication between the dentist and patient that results in patient's authorization of agreement or refusal to undergo a specific intervention
informed consent/informed refusal
treat people equiably
justice
advocating that the rule be violated or that there is an adequate reason for violating the rule
justification
excuse or justification: i stopped to help an elderly couple who was stranded with a flat tire
justification
as we age, we gain maturity and we begin to systematically evaluate with principles
moral reasoning
rules that are very specific in telling you what to do in specific situation, however, they don't tell you the why; justified or defended using normative ethical principles that are part of a normative ethical theory
moral rules
a disposition to act as the morally reasonable person would act and to feel emotions and desires appropriately
moral virtues
_______ (moral/values) are _______(moral/values) put into practice
moral; values
beneficence or nonmaleficence: not providing unnecessary treatment
nonmaleficence
beneficence or nonmaleficence: refusing to provide a treatment whose effectiveness is unknown
nonmaleficence
do no harm
nonmaleficence
to do what is needed with very little discussion with patients
paternalism
standard that allows the physician to determine what information is appropriate to disclose
practitioner standard
conditional duty
prima facie
first glance/view; it implies conditionally that it may be over-ridden by another "higher" duty
prima facie
general normative standards of conduct holding that a particular decision or act is true or right for all people in all times and places
principles
standard focuses on considering what a typical patient would need to know in order to understand the decision at hand
reasonable patient standard
process when the patient evaluates the risks and benefits of a procedure and weighs them against their own values and is able to come to a conclusion
reasoned decision
this standard is most challenging to incorporate into practice, since it requires tailoring information to each patient
subjective standard
while one shouldn't coerce patients to make a certain decision, it is OK to try to persuade them to choose what you think is best treatment option (T/F)
true; Coercion is trying to influence someone by making threats which definitely violates an individual's autonomy. However, trying to persuade them by appealing to reason is acceptable. But, once they make a decision, you have to respect their choice. However, you also have autonomy and you can make a choice to perform a procedure or not (there are some limits to provider autonomy)
according to the deontology or the "rights approach" to ethics, an action is "right" (ethical) if it respects the moral rights of individuals (T/F)
true; Deontology is the ethical theory in which actions are ethical if they respect the moral rights of individuals. Velasquez, et al. calls this the Rights approach. The ethical principles involved include respect for autonomy, veracity, and fidelity (on the individual level); and justice on the societal level.
The difference between ethics and morality is that ethics deals with knowing what is "right?" (T/F)
true; Ethics is "knowing" what to do after a reflective evaluation of one's duties. It is a systematic approach of what we should do. Morality is the unreflective taking action on what one believes is the right thing to do
Morals are a set of ideas and actions that individual believe are correct for living one's respective society
true; Morals is that set of ideas and actions that individuals believe are correct for their society. They are essentially one's values put into practice.
There are unique circumstances under which a minor can give informed consent for dental treatment. (T/F)
true; Usually minors need a proxy or surrogate decision maker to provide informed consent for medical/dental procedures. However, this is not an iron-clad rule. There are circumstances (e.g., being in the military) when an individual younger than 18 years old can give informed consent.
subjective beliefs of an individual or culture about what is deemed good and correct in life primarily related to human behavior
values
telling the truth
veracity
which ethical theory -answers how should I live? -what kind of person should one be to "get it right" all the time
virtue ethics
traits that are admirable which contribute to social harmony, enable us to act with reason and feel appropriately; have right intention and are oriented towards mean rather than the extremes (vices)
virtue of a person
Discussion of each of the following must be included when giving Informed Consent except: a. Risks and benefits of the treatment b. Alternatives to treatment c. Diagnosis d. Family's wishes e. Risks of not receiving care
"When obtaining consent from a competent adult for a procedure/treatment we have to discuss with the patient what the diagnosis is, what is the recommended and alternative treatments are with their risks and benefits, what is the risk of not having procedure done, who will do the procedure, special interest of the provider, whether the treatment is for research and if there are any differing views of treatment options held by other dentists. Cost will be a factor and this is discussed. Since we are dealing with a competent adult, the family's wishes are irrelevant for consent purposes."
Greek philosopher "man is by nature a political animal"
Aristotle
student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great; developed 1st Western comprehensive philosophy system
Aristotle
Which approach to ethics is at play in this scenario? You are in a check-out line when the cashier miscalculates and gives you $2 more in change than you should have received. You return the $2. When asked to explain why you did, you answer, "Because at the end of the day, she has to reconcile her cash draw and any shortages, she has to pay out of her own pocket." a. Principlism b. Consequentialism c. Moral Sentiment approach d. Virtue / character approach
B; Consequentialism. The explanation focuses on the outcome of returning the $2, namely that the cashier wouldn't have to pay for the shortage
General normative standards of conduct holding that a particular decision or action is true or right or good for all people in all times and places are called what? a. Morals b. Moral rules c. Values d. Principles e. None of the above
D; By definition, principles are general normative standards of conduct holding that a particular decision or action is true or right or good for all people in all times and places are. Moral rules help us discern what duties we have towards other people which allows a functioning society. Morals is a "set of ideas and actions that individuals believe are correct for living in [one's] respective society." Morals are values put into practice: codes of conduct governing behavior. Values are subjective personal ideas that an individual thinks are worthwhile.
Dentists should do whatever procedures their patients ask of them. (T/F)
Dentists should only perform those procedures that (1) he/she is capable of doing, (2) it's needed for patient's oral health and (3) patient agrees to it. Dentists are autonomous agents and can choose not to do a requested procedure when it's not in the best interest of his patient (remember central values: oral health is ranked above patient autonomy). However, if the dentist is capable of a procedure that it meets standard of care, the patient needs it and he/she is the only dentist the patient can access, then the dentist should do the procedure (patient autonomy is ranked above preferred pattern of practice in the central values). Doing anything that the patient wants would be following the agent model: not the best model of patient-dentist relationship.
virtue ethics tries to deal with solving specific dilemmas. (T/F)
Deontology and consequentialism try to answer " What is the right action" when faced with a specific dilemma. Virtue ethics, however, deals with answering"What kind of person should one be in order to get it right all the time
Which of the following is NOT required when acquiring informed consent from a patient? a. Inadequate disclosure of information b. Patient's ability to understand the information c. Patient has the ability to make a reasoned decision d. No untoward pressure is applied to the patient
a; In order for a patient to make an informed decision, the patient needs to be able to understand all the information that is presented to him/her, have the capacity for decision-making, and makes the decision without coercion or manipulation.
let people live their lives as they see fit
autonomy
self-determination and refers to the ability to act independently and follow one's own plans of how he/she desires to live
autonomy
action for the benefit of others - can help prevent or remove harm or simply improve the situation of others
beneficence
beneficence or nonmaleficence: conduct smoking cessation counseling
beneficence
beneficence or nonmaleficence: oral hygiene instructions to school aged children
beneficence
beneficence or nonmaleficence: providing vaccines for general population
beneficence
beneficence or nonmaleficence: resuscitating a drowning victim
beneficence
do good for others
beneficence
ethics applied to healthcare practitioner
bioethics
field of applied ethics to the medical arena dealing with ethics and philosophical implications
bioethics
In which of the following cases may it NOT be OK for the patient to refuse treatment? a. Refusal based on religious belief despite risk of death b. Given adequate understanding of information, refusal based on uncertainty regarding success c. Single parent at risk of death without family to care for child d. Concern regarding risks of the procedure
c; The patient maintains the right to refuse the procedure regardless of the reason. Some of these reasons may include religious beliefs, concern regarding risks of procedure or skepticism regarding possible success of the procedure. An exception to the general right of patients to refuse medical care may exist when the best interest of a child of theirs would dictate there is no other appropriate adult to care for that minor child.Some state courts (some states have not recognized the right of the State to supercede the interest of the individual in this regard) have allowed a court order to be granted ordering specified medical care of a parent be provided over the parent's objection when that patient had a minor child that the court found did not have another appropriate adult guardian to care for that minor. When issuing such an order, the court's order is based on finding that the State's right to protect the best interests of the child outweighed the patient's individual right to determine his/her own medical care."
principles that are intrinsically valid are good in and of themselves and they must be obeyed by all, in all situations and circumstances, if our behaviors is to observe the morallaw
categorical imperatives
virtuous inner dispositions that involve being moved to act in accordance with them; can be relied on consistently over time
character of a person
a legal term meaning having the ability to negotiate certain legal tasks (e.g. contracts)
competent
approach that looks at outcomes -if they are favorable, then the action is moral
consequentalism
Sound moral reasoning automatically leads to correct action except where there are weaknesses in: a. Moral sensitivity b. Moral courage c. Moral integrity d. Any of the above
d;Weakness in any of these areas can prevent an individual from taking the "correct" action. Moral reasoning can only lead to correct action when firstly, you recognize (moral sensitivity) you are faced with a situation which requires moral reasoning. However, it takes moral courage for one to act morally expecially when there is personal risk to the moral agent.
the approach to ethics in which how "good" an action is based on whether it respected the moral rights of individuals; developed by Immanual Kant; duty based
deontological approach
which ethical theory: -looks for right action for a specific dilemma here and now -thinks about what is the right action
deontology and consquentialism
legal or moral obligations which provide and/or protect rights of members of society
duties as moral agent
which mattered more according to Kant: duty or outcome
duty
action one should take after taking into account all relevant duties and all relevant stakeholders
duty proper
