Overview
This lecture provides an introduction to foundational ethical theories and their application in healthcare, emphasizing how these theories inform real-world decision-making and professional practice.
Brief History of Ethics
- Ancient philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle shaped ethics through dialogue, justice, and virtue.
- Medieval ethics integrated religious values such as charity, humility, and natural law discerned by reason.
- The Enlightenment led to secular ethics emphasizing individual rights and reason.
- Contemporary ethics, especially bioethics, adopt multidisciplinary approaches in healthcare.
Major Ethical Theories in Healthcare
Consequentialism & Utilitarianism
- Consequentialism measures morality by the outcomes of actions—good outcomes equal ethical actions.
- Utilitarianism, a form of consequentialism, seeks the greatest good for the greatest number.
- Key figures: Jeremy Bentham (quantitative pleasure) and John Stuart Mill (qualitative pleasure).
- Applied in public health (e.g., vaccination programs) and resource allocation.
Non-Consequentialism & Deontology
- Non-consequentialism judges morality by duties and principles, not outcomes.
- Deontology (Kant) stresses universal moral duties and adherence to rules like informed consent, confidentiality, and duty to care.
- Critiqued for potentially conflicting duties and rigid rule adherence.
Principlism
- Uses four principles: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
- Guides patient consent, treatment planning, and equitable resource distribution.
- Criticized for possible principle conflicts and oversimplification.
Virtue Ethics
- Focuses on the moral character of the agent, not just actions.
- Encourages cultivating virtues like honesty, compassion, empathy, and humility (Aristotle).
- Guides healthcare towards building trustworthy provider-patient relationships.
Christian Ethics
- Draws from Christian teachings, stressing love, charity (agape), and the dignity of every individual.
- Promotes holistic care and advocacy for vulnerable populations.
- May conflict with secular frameworks and varies by interpretation.
Mixed Theories
- Combine elements from multiple theories for nuanced ethical analysis.
- Examples: care ethics (empathy and relationships), narrative ethics (value of patient stories), and feminist ethics (focus on inclusivity and social justice).
- Enhance flexibility but risk ambiguity.
Feminist Ethics
- Highlights the moral experience of women and marginalized groups.
- Emphasizes care, context, relationships, and social justice.
- Advocates for equity and patient-centered care.
Comparative Analysis of Ethical Theories
- Consequentialism focuses on outcomes; non-consequentialism on intentions and rules.
- Principlism balances individual rights with the collective good, whereas utilitarianism may prioritize the majority.
- Deontology employs rigid rules; mixed theories allow flexible, context-specific solutions.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Consequentialism — judges morality by outcomes of actions.
- Utilitarianism — advocates actions that maximize overall happiness.
- Non-consequentialism — judges morality by adherence to duties/rules.
- Deontology — ethical theory focusing on moral duties and principles.
- Principlism — uses four core principles for ethical healthcare decisions.
- Virtue Ethics — emphasizes moral character and virtues.
- Christian Ethics — ethics based on Christian teachings.
- Mixed Theories — integrate multiple ethical frameworks.
- Feminist Ethics — focuses on care, relationships, and justice for marginalized groups.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the ethical theory principles discussed.
- Prepare to apply these theories to medical technology cases in future classes.
- Engage in class discussions around complex ethical dilemmas.