ETHICS IN HEALTH CARE

2

• Define the term “medical ethics”

• Differentiate between ethics and

morality

• Differentiate between ethics and low

objectives

Ethics

Is a branch of philosophy

that’s concerned with the

study of principles that

govern human behavior in

our social world

It is defining what is right or wrong.

The word ethics is derived from the

Greek ethos, which means a

manner of acting or constant mode

of behavior

Ethics

• Morality is the value dimension of

human decision-making and

behavior.

• The act of ethics. What is the action?

Morality

• The language of morality includes

nouns such as ‘rights’,

‘responsibilities’ and ‘features’ and

adjectives such as ‘good’ and ‘bad’

(or ‘evil’), ‘right’ and ‘wrong’

Items Ethics Morals

Definition It is defined as

principles/guidelines that

govern human behavior in our

social world

It is an individual’s

own principles or

habits regarding

right or wrong

Where do

they come

from?

Social system or a framework

for acceptable behavior –

external standards that are

provided by institutions, groups,

or culture to which an individual

belongs

Individual -

Internal

Items Ethics Morals

Why we do it? Because society says it is

the right thing to do.

Because we believe

in something being

right or wrong.

Consistency

and

Flexibility

Ethics are very consistent

within a certain context,

but can vary greatly

between contexts

Usually consistent,

although can change

if an individual’s

beliefs change.

Origin Greek word "ethos"

meaning "character"

Latin word "mos"

meaning "custom"

Ethics vs. Law

Items Ethics Low

Definition It is defined as

principles/guidelines

that govern human

behavior in our social

world

It is defined as legal system

that comprises of rules and

principles set by the

decision authority to

govern over the affairs of

the community

Punishment There is no punishment

for defying one’s ethics.

There is valid punishment

for breaking the law.

Items Ethics Low

Characteris

tics

•It cannot be enforced, it

comes from within

an individual

•It need not be published.

•It may or may not be

consistent.

•It is enforced on the

people.

•It needs to be published.

•It is consistent.

• Morality governs

private, personal

interactions

• Ethics governs

professional interactions

• Law governs society as a

whole

The relationship between Ethics, morality and Law

• It is the branch of ethics that deals

with moral issues in medical practice

Medical ethics

Who Decides What is Ethical?

• Most human beings can agree on some

fundamental ethical principles, namely,

the basic human rights stated in the

United Nations Universal Declaration of

Human Rights

The human rights that are especially

important for medical ethics include

the right:to life,

to freedom from discrimination, torture

and cruel, inhuman or degrading

treatment,

to freedom of opinion and expression,

to equal access to public services in one’s

country, and

to medical care.

The human rights that are especially

important for medical ethics include

the right:

World Medical Association “WMA”

• It has set a broad range of ethical

statements that specify the behavior

required of physicians no matter

where they live and practice.

“...the WMA has undertaken the

role of establishing general

standards in medical ethics that are

applicable worldwide.”

World Medical Association “WMA”

They are very consistent within a

certain context, but some aspects of

medical ethics have changed over

time.

Does Medical Ethics Change?

These occur in response to

developments in medical science

and technology as well as in societal

values

Does Medical Ethics Change?

For example, participation in abortion

was forbidden in medical codes of

ethics until recently but now is

tolerated under certain conditions by

the medical profession in many

countries.

Does Medical Ethics Change?