Download ch03_wcr - University of Delaware

HLTH241
Class 3
Prototypes of Ethical Problems
Slides by W. Rose, C. Polek, P. Butler, H. Brock.
College of Health Sciences
and
College of Arts and Sciences
University of Delaware
Slides generally follow outline of Purtilo (2011) ch. 3.
Chapter 3
I.
Introduction
Beulah and Tiffany, OT
II. Recognizing An Ethical Problem
III. Prototypes of Ethical Problems: Common Features
IV. Three Prototypes of Ethical Problems
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II. Recognition of an ethical question
How do you know if the problem has an ethical
component rather than, or in addition to, a clinical or legal
component?
Example: Can, must, should
“Ethical questions focus on one’s role as a moral agent
and those aspects of a situation that involve moral values,
duties, and quality of life concerns in order to arrive at a
caring response.” p. 50
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III. Common features of ethical problems
• Moral agent (s)
• Course of action
• An outcome
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III. Common features of ethical problems
•
•
•
Agent: responsible for choosing a course of action and
for the outcome
Moral agent: “person who acts for him or herself or in
the place of another by the authority of that person
and does so by conforming to a standard of right
behavior” p.51
Activity: p. 51 reflection, each group oreports one example of a
moral agent in a health setting and explains why that person was a
moral agent in that situation
1. Reason: obviously important
2. Emotion: also important but not so obvious
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III. Common features of ethical problems
•
•
Course of action includes
1. Agent’s analysis
2. Judgment process: choosing what to do
3. Decision to act in accordance with the judgment
Outcome
We hope that the course of action leads to the
outcome of a caring response
As applied ethicists, should we focus more on
the course of action or the outcome? Discuss.
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IV. Three prototypes of ethical problems
1. Moral distress: The agent cannot do what is right
A. Cannot do what one knows is right
•
Barriers may be external or internal
•
What are some reasons a HCP might not be able to
do what she or he “knows” is right?
B. Can’t figure out what’s wrong (and right)
•
Probe deeply
•
Seek advice
•
Check your emotions
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IV. Three prototypes of ethical problems, cont.
2. Ethical dilemma
•
Two or more morally correct courses of action that are
mutually exclusive
•
Common reason: multiple duties
•
Example: Tiffany & Beulah
•
Example: Allocating societal benefits and burdens fairly
and equitably.
•
Exercise: Describe a dilemma you might face as a HCP
arising from a scarcity of resources.
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IV. Three prototypes of ethical problems, cont.
3. Locus of authority problem
• Who should be the Agent to make a Course of
action (i.e. analyze, decide, and act) and to be
held accountable for the Outcome?
a. Professional expertise
b. Traditional arrangements
c. Institutional arrangements and mechanisms
d. Authority of experience
• Which of the above will result in a caring
response for the patient?
College or Department name here