Lecture notes
Overview and Critique of Ethical Theories
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- Staffordshire University
Notes about ethical theories in the field of adult nursing
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Ethics - the study of principles and behaviour, particularly moral behaviour.Ethics are relevant due to the intimacy of the profession. Patients moral rights are not surrendered
when they are in your care.
Society uses a moral code to judge others.
Ethical Concepts
Ethical Principles
Standards of behaviour which are used to guide moral decision making in health care settings.
Cultural beliefs may alter application.
Ethical principles can be based on lifestyle choices.
Utilitarianism - focuses on consequences of an action. An action is right only if it promotes the best
consequence.
Deontology - duty based theory where consequences are not considered and deontologists believe
that good in the world is brought back by a sense of duty.
Duty of:
Fidelity
Beneficence
Non-maleficence
Justice
Reparation
Gratitude
Self improvement
Failure to provide a duty of care will result in a civil law case of negligence.
Autonomy - have the ability to choose for yourself. Going against someone's consent would be going
against the Person Act (1861).
Beneficence - the moral importance of doing good. Doing what's best for the patient.
Conflict - when a patient chooses a course of action which is not in their best interests.
Non maleficence - the avoidance of harm.
Justice - patients in similar situations should normally have the same access to healthcare. We must
consider the effect of resources on other patients before deciding the level of healthcare for one
individual.
Ethics relation to law
The authority of the law is a principle of institutional morality, as such it guides all forms of law
making enforcement. Law is synonymous with ethics.
Virtue ethics - Central issue with virtue ethics is the character of the person. Aristotle in 4th C BC.
The right act is one that a generous kind person would do. Concentrates on the practitioner, not the
patient.
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