Ethics

• Ethical Concepts

  • Integrity
  • Justice
  • Beneficence
  • Non-maleficence
  • Respect
• Integrity:

  • commitment to the truth
  • you do what you say
  • intersection between your words, your beliefs and actions
• Justice:

  • emphasises the fair distribution of resources and equal access to benefits.
  • similar to fairness, but fairness aims to treat everybody the same, whilst justice aims to treat people how they should be treated
• beneficence:

  • kindness and goodness.
  • seeking to maximise the benefits for others.
  • it promotes the wellbeing of others.
• non-maleficence:

  • commitment of minimising harm to others
  • can come at the cost of restricting others' freedom
• respect:

  • upholding the warfare of others.
  • respecting the autonomy and rights of others to make their own decisions
• Bioethical approaches

  • Consequence-based
  • Duty/rule-based
  • Virtue-based
• Consequence-based

  • what choices will maximise positive outcomes while minimising negative outcomes
  • the end justifies the means
  • goal to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of stakeholders.
• Duty/rule-based

  • there should be a set of ethical rules that should be followed, irrespective of the outcome, and feelings of individual circumstances.
  • places importance on the duty of each individual
• Virtue-based

  • decisions made based on the "moral compass" of the person making the decision.
  • actions can be justified because it is charitable/good
  • individuals should be driven by their character