LO: Discuss the four key ethical principles related to medicine (autonomy, beneficence , non-maleficence, justice) - including their application and limitations

Ethics

• Science of moral decision making
• Basis of moral codes and laws
• Ethical reasoning - tools for making moral judgements
• Ethical questions cannot be answered, it is inadequate to respond with facts or science, the law, religion or commonly held view

Domains

• Moral judgements - particular variety of judgement and decision making
• Framing - analysis of concepts and definitions
• Question assumptions, bias and prejudices
• Arrive at balanced and defensible position

Morality

• Moral systems - code of right and wrong

Four pillars (principles)

• Autonomy - respect for an individual's capacity to make reasoned decisions and to act upon them
• Beneficence - Act in your patients best interest
• Non-maleficence - Avoid deliberate acts that will harm the patient
• Justice- Distribute resources equitably

Usage

• Identify which principles are most at stake in the circumstance
• Look for conflicts between principles
• Decide using own reasoning and judgement how the principles may be addressed
• Resolve conflicts
• Decide how to act and how to explain or defend the actions in light of the principles

LO: Discuss conflicts between principles and demonstrate the ability to identify which principles are most at stake in given cases

Critical reasoning

• No single theory or principle will yield a correct answer every time
• Recognise and question assumptions
• Identify all whose interests are at stake
• Identify and resolve conflict between principles/theories/parties
• Consider counterarguments
• Prepare to show how the answer was reached

LO: Describe the three principal ethical theories in the western canon (virtue ethics, deontology, consequentialism/utilitarianism) and how they might be applied in medical contexts

Virtue Ethics

• Achieve balance between extremes
• What virtues would an ideal good person/doctor have
• What actions and why?
• "The good" - perfect human flourishing

Duty Ethics (deontology)

• Morality is a matter of adhering to fixed standards
• Categorical imperative - act only according to the maxim whereby you can
• Do not instrumentalise/objectify the person

Consequentialism (Utilitarianism)

• Consequentialism - outcomes are what matter
• Utilitarianism - promote greatest utility for the greatest number
• No absolute prohibitions
• Ends justify the means