1. Ethical Theories
Ethical Theories
Unit 5

2. Ethical Principles Beneficence – principle of doing good
Ethical Theories
Ethical Principles
Beneficence – principle of doing good
rather than harm
Nonmalificience

3. Ethical Principles Autonomy – principle that acknowledges
Ethical Theories
Ethical Principles
Autonomy – principle that acknowledges
individuals have freedom of choice and action when considering plans that affect
them

4. Ethical Principles • Justice - the duty to give to each person what
Ethical Theories
Ethical Principles
• Justice - the duty to give to each person what
they deserve and can legitimately claim

5. Rights • Justified claims that individuals or groups can
Ethical Theories
Rights
• Justified claims that individuals or groups can
make upon others or upon society

6. The Principle of Formal Justice
Ethical Theories
The Principle of Formal Justice
Equals must be treated equally, and unequals must be treated unequally. -attributed to Aristotle

7. Principles of Distributive Justice
Ethical Theories
Principles of Distributive Justice
Egalitarian: the duty to give to each person an equal share

8. Principles of Distributive Justice
Ethical Theories
Principles of Distributive Justice
Humanitarian: the duty to give to each person
according to individual need

9. Principles of Distributive Justice
Ethical Theories
Principles of Distributive Justice
Libertarian – the duty to give to each person
according to individual effort, merit, or
contribution

10. Libertarian Principle
Ethical Theories
Libertarian Principle
Differences in individual merit, effort, or contribution translate into differential ability to afford insurance and/or access treatment.
To a libertarian, these differences are not unjust.
As health care has become increasingly a business, this principle has assumed a strong de facto position.

11. Principles of Distributive Justice
Ethical Theories
Principles of Distributive Justice
Entitlement – everyone is entitled to
whatever they get in the natural lottery at
birth.

12. Entitlement Principle
Ethical Theories
Entitlement Principle
Each individual is responsible for improving their lot in life.
Inequalities between individuals in health, position, and wealth are tolerated.
Aggression or harm against others and unjust acquisition of goods are prohibited.

13. Principles of Distributive Justice
Ethical Theories
Principles of Distributive Justice
Utilitarian – the duty to give to each person
according to the greatest good for the
greatest number.

14. Utilitarian Principle
Ethical Theories
Utilitarian Principle
Individual needs and wants are not considered.
• Consideration is only given to providing
that which will serve the greatest number.
• Societal Beneficence vs. Individual Beneficence
• Libertarian and Utilitarian are concerned with maximizing goods and minimizing harms = the Utility Principle.

15. Maximin Principle (John Rawls)
Ethical Theories
Maximin Principle (John Rawls)
• The duty to give to each person according to the greatest benefit to the least advantaged.
Each person is owed a fair opportunity to access health care.
Persons must have both an equal chance and the means to access the opportunity.
Persons are owed a “decent minimum” level of health care.
Decent minimum of health care is provided by subsidizing health care by those that have the means to do so.

16. Two Levels of Debate The Individual Level Social Policy
Ethical Theories
Two Levels of Debate
The Individual Level
Social Policy

17. Issues to Consider Is health care a right of all citizens?
Ethical Theories
Issues to Consider
Is health care a right of all citizens?
If health care is a right, what is the “decent minimum” owed?
What are the limits to the right of health care?

18. Ethical Theories
Issues to Consider
How do the rights to health care balance against other rights?
To what extent do/should economic considerations intrude into clinical decision making?