Ethics

What are some common characteristics of a group that claims to be a profession?

(1) a distinct body of knowledge (2) control over the entry of members into the profession (3) a legitimacy and accountability of the professional group as it serves the needs of the society within which it exists.

What are the three different ways that the term "ethics" is used?

(1) a general pattern or way of life, such as religious ethics (e.g., Judeo-Christian ethics) (2) a set of rules of conduct or moral code, which involves professional ethics and ethical behavior; and (3) philosophical ethics, which involves inquiry about ways of life and rules of conduct.

What is cooperativeness?

Cooperativeness is the willingness and ability to work with others. In the healthcare setting, it is important that caregivers work cooperatively as a team.

What is courage?

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

Describe deontological ethics

Deontological theory focuses on one's duties to others. It includes telling the truth and keeping one's promises. Deontology involves ethical analysis according to a moral code or rules, religious or secular, as presented next.

What is fidelity?

Fidelity is the virtue of faithfulness, being true to our commitments and obligations to others. A component of fidelity—veracity—implies that we will be truthful and honest in all our endeavors. It involves being faithful and loyal to obligations, duties, or observances.

What is freedom?

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

What is fairness?

In ethics, fairness means being objective, unbiased, dispassionate, impartial, and consistent with the principles of ethics. Fairness is the ability to make judgments free from discrimination, dishonesty, or one's own bias.

Describe consequential ethics

It involves asking: ▪ What will be the effects of each course of action? ▪ Will they be positive or negative? ▪ For whom? ▪ What will do the least harm?

Describe non consequential ethics

The nonconsequential ethics theory denies that the consequences of an action or rule are the only criteria for determining the morality of an action or rule. In this theory, the rightness or wrongness of an action is based on properties intrinsic to the action, not on its consequences.

What is discernment?

The virtue of discernment is the ability to make a good decision without personal biases, fears, and undue influences from others. A person who has discernment has the wisdom to decide the best course of action when there are many possible actions to choose from.

What is distributive justice?

a principle requiring that all persons be treated equally and fairly. No one person, for example, should get a disproportional share of society's resources or benefits.

What are bioethics?

addresses such difficult issues as the nature of life, the nature of death, what sort of life is worth living, what constitutes murder, how we should treat people who are in especially vulnerable and painful circumstances, and the responsibilities we have to other human beings. The following events are some of many that have had a significant impact on healthcare ethics.

What is nonmalefiecence?

an ethical principle that requires caregivers to avoid causing patients harm

What is beneficence?

describes the principle of doing good, demonstrating kindness, showing compassion, and helping others

What is compassion?

in the healthcare setting means a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering

What are macroethics?

involves a more global view of right and wrong

What are microethics?

involves an individual's view of what is right and wrong based on personal life experiences

What is autonomy?

recognizing an individual's right to make his or her own decisions about what is best for himself or herself. Autonomy is not an absolute principle. The autonomous actions of one person must not infringe upon the rights of another.

What is commitment?

the act of binding oneself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action. It is an agreement or pledge to do something. It can be ongoing or a pledge to do something in the future.

Define ethics

the branch of philosophy that seeks to understand the nature, purposes, justification, and founding principles of moral rules and the systems they comprise. Ethics deals with values relating to human conduct. It focuses on the rightness and wrongness of actions as well as the goodness and badness of motives and ends.

What is justice?

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

What is morality?

the quality of being in accord with standards of right and good conduct describes a class of rules held by society to govern the conduct of its individual members.

What is virtue?

those characteristics that differentiate good people from bad people. Virtues, such as honesty and justice, are abstract moral principles. Properly understood, virtues serve as indispensable guides to our actions. However, they are not ends in themselves.

What are common features of professional organizations?

▪ Support through membership dues ▪ Some form of acceptance by government authorities as being a legitimate voice for the organization's members ▪ A relationship with the institutions that prepare and employ the organization's members ▪ A governance model that allows participation by the organization's members in its decision process ▪ A permanent staff who conduct the daily business of the profession

Describe conscientiousness

A conscientious person is one who has moral integrity and a strict regard for doing what is considered the right thing to do. An individual acts conscientiously if he or she is motivated to do what is right, believing it is the right thing to do.