What is ethics?

• Ethics: the study of what is morally right and what is morally wrong (based on a critical approach and rational argument)
• Medical ethics: the values, moral conduct and principles that govern the practice of medicine
  • Deals with ethical dilemmas and issues in healthcare and healthcare settings
  • Concerned with what healthcare professionals ought to do and their ability to explain reasons for their decisions and actions
• Professional ethics: the ethical norms, values and principles that guide professional conduct
  • Doctors rights and duties
  • Patient’s rights and duties
  • Doctors actions in the care of patients and in relations with their families

4 ethical principles

• Autonomy: respect for person's free will and capacity for independent decision-making
• Beneficence: balance of benefits of treatment against risks and cost - acting for the good of others
• Maleficence: do no harm
• Justice and equity: fair distribution of benefits, risks and costs, fair resource allocation, social justice

Main ethical theories

Deontology

• Associated with Kant (German philosopher)
• Key question: 'is the act right or wrong in itself?'
• Values of rationality, free will, autonomy, duty, dignity
• In terms of medical practice, this covers e.g. a patient's right to refuse treatment

Consequentialism

• Associated with Bentham and Mill (British philosophers)
• Whether some action is right or wrong depends on the consequences

Utilitarianism

• Associated with Bentham and Mill (British philosophers)