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Ethical Theories

Ethical Theories. Unit 5. Ethical Principles. Beneficence – principle of doing good rather than harm Nonmalificience. Ethical Principles. Autonomy – principle that acknowledges individuals have freedom of choice and action when considering plans that affect them.

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Ethical Theories

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  1. Ethical Theories Unit 5

  2. Ethical Principles • Beneficence – principle of doing good rather than harm Nonmalificience

  3. Ethical Principles • Autonomy – principle that acknowledges individuals have freedom of choice and action when considering plans that affect them

  4. Ethical Principles • Justice - the duty to give to each person what they deserve and can legitimately claim

  5. Rights • Justified claims that individuals or groups can make upon others or upon society

  6. The Principle of Formal Justice Equals must be treated equally, and unequals must be treated unequally. -attributed to Aristotle

  7. Principles of Distributive Justice Egalitarian: the duty to give to each person an equal share

  8. Principles of Distributive Justice Humanitarian: the duty to give to each person according to individual need

  9. Principles of Distributive Justice • Libertarian – the duty to give to each person according to individual effort, merit, or contribution

  10. Libertarian Principle • Differences in individual merit, effort, or contribution translate into differential ability to afford insurance and/or access treatment. • To a libertarian, these differences are not unjust. • As health care has become increasingly a business, this principle has assumed a strong de facto position.

  11. Principles of Distributive Justice • Entitlement – everyone is entitled to whatever they get in the natural lottery at birth.

  12. Entitlement Principle • Each individual is responsible for improving their lot in life. • Inequalities between individuals in health, position, and wealth are tolerated. • Aggression or harm against others and unjust acquisition of goods are prohibited.

  13. Principles of Distributive Justice • Utilitarian – the duty to give to each person according to the greatest good for the greatest number.

  14. Utilitarian Principle • Individual needs and wants are not considered. • Consideration is only given to providing that which will serve the greatest number. • Societal Beneficence vs. Individual Beneficence • Libertarian and Utilitarian are concerned with maximizing goods and minimizing harms = the Utility Principle.

  15. Maximin Principle (John Rawls) • The duty to give to each person according to the greatest benefit to the least advantaged. • Each person is owed a fair opportunity to access health care. • Persons must have both an equal chance and the means to access the opportunity. • Persons are owed a “decent minimum” level of health care. • Decent minimum of health care is provided by subsidizing health care by those that have the means to do so.

  16. Two Levels of Debate • The Individual Level • Social Policy

  17. Issues to Consider • Is health care a right of all citizens? • If health care is a right, what is the “decent minimum” owed? • What are the limits to the right of health care?

  18. Issues to Consider • How do the rights to health care balance against other rights? • To what extent do/should economic considerations intrude into clinical decision making?

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