Ch1.EthicsExam1 – Flashcards

The branch of philosophy that seeks to understand the nature, purposes, justification, and founding principles of moral rules and the systems they comprise

deals with values relating to human contact

The rightness and wrongness, as well as the goodness and badness of motives and ends

it encompasses the decision-making process of determining ultimate actions-what should I do and is it the right thing to do

how individuals decide to live with one another within accepted boundaries and how they live in harmony with the environment as well as one another

it is concerned with human contact as it ought to be, as opposed of what it actually is

An individual's view of what is right and wrong based on one's personal life teachings, tradition and experienes

A more global view of right and wrong

(1)philosophical ethics, (2) a general pattern of way of life (religious ethics) and (3) a set of rules of conduct or moral code (professional codes for ethical behavior.

one distinct related way of ethics; involves inquiry about ways of life and rules of conduct

addresses such difficult issues as the nature of life, the nature of death, what sort of life is worth living, what constitutes murder, how we should treat people who are especially vulnerable, and the responsibilities that we have to other human beings.

The reason is to make sound judgments, good decisions, and right/better choice; Understand the goodness and badness of motives and ends

describes a class of rules held by society to govern the conduct of its individual members; implies quality of being in accord with standards of right and good conduct

Ideas about what is right and wrong; Guides to behavior that rational persons put forward for governing their behavior

Generally prescribes standards of conduct, states principles expressing responsibilities, and defines the rules expressing duties of professionals to whom they apply

(honesty, respect for others conscientiousness) are used to guide human conduct by stating desirable traits to be exhibited and undesirable ones (dishonesty, deceitfulness, self-interest) to be avoided

describe responsibilities that do not specify what the required conduct should be

specify specific conduct; they do not allow for individual professional judgment

are those judgments concerned with what an individual or group believes to be the right or proper behavior in a given situation

involves assessment of another person's moral character: Based on how he or she conforms to moral convictions established by the individual and/or group

Law is distinguished from morality in that: Law has explicit rules, penalties; Laws are created to set boundaries for societal behavior; Laws are enforced to ensure that expected behavior happens

often arise when values, rights, duties, and loyalties conflict

must not only examine what he or she considers the right thing to do, but What are the alternatives and What are the patient's known wishes

attempt to introduce order into the way people think about life and action. They are the foundations of ethical analysis and provide guidance in the decision-making process.

the study of the origin and meaning of ethical concepts; seeks to understand ethical terms and theories and their application

exploring the connection between values, reasons for action, and human motivation

is prescriptive in that it attempts to determine what moral standards should be followed so that human behavior and conduct may be morally right

it is primarily concerned with establishing standards or norms for conduct and is commonly associated with investigating how one ought to act.

ethics that involves the critical study of major moral precepts, such as what things are right, what things are good, and what things are genuine

whether human actions are to be judged right or wrong solely according to their consequences is one of the central questions of what modern ethics

also known as comparative ethics, is the study of what people believe to be right and wrong, and why they believe it; Describes how people act; Whereas normative ethics prescribes how people ought to act

the philosophical search (within western philosophy) for right and wrong within controversial scenarios." The application of normative theories to practical moral problems, such as abortion, euthanasia, and assisted suicide

emphasizes that the morally right action is whatever action leads to the maximum balance of good over evil.

theories that judge actions by their consequences

the premise of Rightness or wrongness of an action is based on the consequences or effects of the action

is to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number

Moral worth of an action is determined solely by its contribution to overall usefulness; Philosophy that advocates greatest good for greatest number; Obligation to do whatever will achieve the greatest good for the greatest number

is often referred to as duty-based ethics; It involves ethical analysis according to a moral code or rules, religious or secular;

is derived from the Greek word meaning "duty.

consequences are not the determinant of what is right; therefore, doing the right thing may not always lead to an increase in what is good

denies that the consequences of an action are the only criteria for determining the morality of an action; Rightness or wrongness of an action is based on properties intrinsic to the action, not on its consequences

right or wrong depends on the intention not the outcome

Morality is relative to the norms of one's culture; Actions can be considered right or wrong depending on the accepted norms of the society in which they are practiced

slavery may be considered an acceptable practice in one society and unacceptable in another

are universal rules of conduct, derived from ethical theories that provide a practical basis for identifying what kinds of actions, intentions, and motives are valued

autonomy, nonmaleficence, justice and beneficence

Right to make one's own decisions; principle of ethics

Principle of doing good, Demonstrating kindness, Showing compassion, Helping others, and Paternalism; principle of ethics

a form of beneficence; making decisions for others

The family physician does not fully inform Mr. Smith as to the seriousness of his illness and how the consequences of the various alternative treatments might affect his life style

informed consent

autonomy and paternalism

Avoid causing harm; Not concerned with improving others' well-being but with avoiding the infliction of harm

Obligation to be fair in distribution of benefits and risks; distributive justice; justice and government spending

Requires all individuals be treated equally

Focuses on the inherent character of a person rather than on the specific actions he or she performs

a positive trait of moral excellence that which has beneficial quality; are habits. Once acquired, they become characteristic of a person

it is the relative worth placed on some virtous behavior; What has value to one person may not have value to another

represent a standard of conduct; Used for judging goodness or badness of an action; it change as needs change

are the standards by which we measure the goodness in our lives

something that has value in and of itself (happiness)

Something that helps to give value to something else

money is valuable for what it can buy

courage, wisdom, temperance, commitment, compassion, conscientiousness, discernment, fairness, fidelity, freedom, honesty, integrity, kindness, respect, hopefulness and tolerance

The mental or moral strength to persevere and withstand danger; the strength of character necessary to continue in the face of fears and the challenges in life

involves balancing fear self-confidence and values

we are unable to take the risks necessary to achieve the things most value

helps to define one's character (the essence of one's being) and offers the strength to stand up for what is good and right

is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount

has good judgment and a clear sense of his or her strengths, correctly evaluates danger, and perseveres until a decision is made and the right goal that is being sought has been achieved

The judicious application of knowledge

Orderliness and moderation; involves self-control and restraint; embraces moderation in thoughts and actions

Agreement or pledge to do something; the act of binding oneself intellectually or emotionally to a course of action or person

Sympathy for another's suffering; the deep awareness of sympathy for another's suffering.

lack of concern for the patient's needs

One who has moral integrity and a strict regard for doing what is considered the right thing to do

a form of self-reflection on and judgment about whether one's actions are right or wrong, good or bad.

Ability to make a good decision without personal biases, fears and under influences from others.

the wisdom to decide the best course of action when there are many possible actions to choose from

Ability to make judgments free from discrimination, dishonesty, or one's own bias; the ability to be objective without prejudice or bias

it is required that each person be objective, unbiased, dispassionate, impartial, and consistent with the principles of ethics

Being true to our commitments and obligations to others; the virtue of faithfulness; involves being faithful and loyal to obligations, duties or observances.

Free to make choices for oneself within the boundaries of law;

Confidence a person will act with right motives

devotion to and conformity with what is truthful; involves an obligation to be truthgul

involves providing enough information so that a patient can make an informed decision about his or her health care

Steadfast adherence to strict moral or ethical code and a commitment not to compromise this code

Considerate and sympathetic to another's needs

Show special regard to someone or something; an attitude of admiration or esteem

Looking forward to something with the confidence of success

can be positive or negative

implies that a person accepts differences in others and that one does not expect others to believe, think, speak, or act as he or she does; free of prejudice and discrimination

implies that one will reluctantly put up with another's beliefs; merely put up with the views of others

is the process of working with others. In the health care setting, caregivers must work together to improve patient outcomes

is effective only as long as each member of the team cooperates and fulfills the duties assigned.

The willingness to pardon someone who has wronged you in some way; a form of mercy; let loose the bonds of blame

The family physician does not fully inform Mr. Smith as to the seriousness of his illness and how the consequences of the various alternative treatments might affect his life style

provides a moral code for appropriate behavior through the revelations from a divine source;

helps us to tolerate the injustices in this life, where goodness is no guarantee of peace, happiness, wellness, or prosperity.

Need to better understand cultural diversity and the importance of religion in the what

In the religious sense implies that there is purpose and meaning to life; generally refers to faith in a higher being

judaism, hinduism, buddhism, falun gong (buddhist), zen taoism, christianity, and islam

sometimes conflict with the ethical duty of caregivers to save lives; Ex: Jehovah's Witnesses, believe that it is a sin to accept a blood transfusion. Important for hospitals to work out such issues in advance with legislative bodies and the judicial system

is based on codes developed by societies that have relied on customs to formulate their codes. Ex: Code of Hammurabi

Rejection of belief in God; Claims the existence of God cannot be scientifically proven; Belief that ethics is the product of culture and politics

Historical documents, Archeological finds and the vastness of space and time

Refers to a particular view of ethics, in which absolute standards are considered less important than the requirements of a particular situation; Importance of a particular value may vary as one's situation changes

is concerned with the outcome or consequences of an action in which the ends can justify the means; refers to those times when a person's beliefs and values can change as circumstances change

Moral character can be compromised when faced with

People make value judgments and choices among

Values one so dearly proclaims may change as needs

Motivating power of a person's actions are necessity for

give purpose to each life. They describe one's moral character

A decision not to use extraordinary means to sustain the life of an unknown 84-year-old "may" result in a different decision if the 84-year-old is one's mother

includes the capacity for logical inference and the ability to conduct inquiry, solve problems, evaluate, criticize, and deliberate about how we should act and to reach an understanding of other people, the world, and ourselves

involves bias for or against a person based on one's relationship with that person

describes a person who has already made up his or her mind on a particular issue and sees no need for deliberation

is the process of determining the right thing to do in the event of a moral dilemma

Alternative choices; Limited resources; Differing values among patients, family members, and caregivers; coming to an agreement often requires sacrificing one's personal wishes and following the road where there is consensus

Parties to a dilemma must reason together; Identification of alternative choices; Willingness to listen, learn, and make an informed decision

Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts inspire your

Be careful of your words, for your words precede your

Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your

Be careful of your habits, for your habits build your

Be careful of your character, for your character decides your