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EthicalDecisionmaking&
InfluencingFactors
M.Highfield
HSci303
WhatFactorsInfluence
EthicalDecisionMaking
Values deeplyheld,constantbeliefs aboutwhatis good
&right.
Morality Behaviors&beliefs aboutwhatis good &right
Ethics Moralphilosophyreasoning
Law reflects minimumethics & enforcedbystate
Moralorientation yourconsistentbasisformakingmoral
&ethicaldecisions. Eaxmples:Beingagoodperson,duty,
respect,lookoutfor#1,divinecommand.
Inshort
Moralityisactions&beliefs
Ethicsisthinkingaboutmoralactions&beliefs
Lawreflectsaminimumstandardofethics,butit
isnotethics
Onepersonsrightisanotherpersonsduty.
Ethicaldecisionmakingisaffectedby
Law
Morality
Values
Professionalcodes
WhatisEthics?
The explicit, philosophical
reflection on moral beliefs and
practices.
The difference between ethics
and morality is similar to the
difference between musicology
and music. Ethics is a conscious
stepping back and reflecting on
morality, just as musicology is a
conscious reflection on music.
http://ethics.sandiego.edu/LMH/E2/Glossary.asp
Whatismorality?
Morality is behaviors & beliefs about
human decency,
right/wrong,
good/evil,
proper/improper
When you find yourself saying ought to or
should
(Butts&Rich http://ethics.sandiego.edu/LMH/E2/Glossary.asp)
Review:Whatsthedifference?
Ethics
Philosophical
reflectiononmorality
Morality
behaviors & beliefs
about
human decency
right/wrong
good/evil &
proper/improper
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Whatislaw?
Lawreflectsaminimumstandardofethics,but
itisnotethics
Rulesmadebyhumanbeingstoguidesociety
&regulatehumaninteractionsthatare
enforceabletopromotepeaceful&productive
interactions(Aiken,p.98)
Ethics&Law:4quadrants
Actionscanbe:
Ethical&legal
Unethical&illegal
Ethical&illegal
Unethicalandlegal( p.5, Davis
&Aroskar, 1991).
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
LEGAL
Yes No
Yes
No
ETHICAL
CheckPoint!
Whatisethics?
Whatislaw?
Whatismorality?
RIGHTS:Law&Ethics
Your right issomeoneelses obligation!
1. Legalrightsare.?
2. Ethicalrightsare..?
WhatareValues?
Valuesaredeeplyheldbeliefsaboutwhatisgood,
right,andappropriate.Valuesaredeepseatedand
remainconstantovertime.Weaccumulateour
valuesfromchildhoodbasedonteachingsand
observationsofourparents,teachers,religious
leaders,andotherinfluentialandpowerfulpeople.
Reference:
http://personaldevelopment.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_are_values
_
Ethics&Values
Ourvaluesareoftensimilartoourbreathinginthatthey
aretakenforgranted.Wedonotgothroughlife
awarethatwearebreathing.Inthesamemanner,we
donotalwaysrealizethatwehaveagivensetofvaluesor
thatadecisionisbasedonthesevalues.Wedonotalways
examineourvaluesbutsimplyacceptthemandacton
them.Again,aswithbreathing,weareareapttothink
aboutourvalueswhensomethinggoeswrong,becausewe
thenbecomemoreawareofthem. (p.19,Davis&Aroskar,
1991)
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Values,thusmorals&moral
orientationareaffectedby...
Gender
Religion
Culture
Tradition
Family
Stageofdevelopment
Ethics&Healthcare:
Terminology
1. Biomedicalethicsisdeterminingwhat
should should bedone,whatisrightorgood in
healthcareissues.
2. Ethicsclassifications
Normative (whatshouldbedone)&
Descriptive (whatpersonsactulaly do)
NursingEthics
(Butts&RichChapters12)
1. Becauseofunavoidablesocialconnections,
everypersonmakesmoral&ethicalchoicesin
lifethataffectothers.
2. Thewellbeingofpatientsisthecentralfocusof
nursing.ThisisemphasizedinANACode
3. Nursesexperiencemoralsufferingafeelingof
anguishoruneasinessastheyconfrontmoral
dilemmasorsuffering
4. Nursescanmovethruthesuffering.to
flourishing
ANACode(1950/2005)
Nursingencompasses
Preventionofillness
Alleviationofsuffering
Protection,promotion,&
restorationofhealthinthecare
ofindividuals,families,groups
&communities.
Nursesactto change thoseaspects
of socialstructuresthatdetract
fromhealth&wellbeing.
Individualswhobecomenurses
areexpectednotonlytoadhere
totheidealsandmoralnormsof
theprofessionbutalsoto
embracethemaspartofwhatit
meanstobeanurse.
AMACode(2001)
Themedicalprofession
haslongsubscribedtoa
bodyofethicalstatements
developedprimarilyfor
thebenefitofthepatient.
Asamemberofthis
profession,aphysician
mustrecognize
responsibilitytopatients
firstandforemost,aswell
asto society,to other
healthprofessionals,and
to self.
AnEthicalDilemma
When it is unclear what action is right or good
That is.When moral claims conflict, creating
Conflict between rights or ethical
principles (Aiken) that seems
incapable of a satisfactory
solution. (Davis & Aroskar, 1991).
EthicalDecisionMaking
(Aiken)
1. Collectinformation
2. Statedilemma
3. Listchoices
4. Analyzepros&consofeachchoice
5. Decide!
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Summary
Moralityisactions&beliefs
Ethicsisthinkingaboutmoralactions&beliefs
Lawreflectsaminimumstandardofethics,butit
isnotethics
Onepersonsrightisanotherpersonsduty.
Ethicaldecisionmakingisaffectedby
Law
Morality
Values
Professionalcodes
Summary
Nursingcodesprovidestandardforbehavior.
Theyarenotlaw.
Legalrightsarebasedinlawethicalrightsin
ultimateprinciples&rules. Wantsarenotthe
sameasrights.
Anactioncanbelegal/ethical,legal/unethical,
illegal/ethical,illegal/unethical
Ethicaldilemma=conflictingmoralclaimssothat
nosinglerightorgoodanswerisclear
Dolaws&codesmakepersonsgood?