L2 - Ethical Theory: Virtue-Based Approach

Virtue-Based Ethics

• Virtue is linked to individual motives such as sympathy and personal affection.
• Practicing the right moral principles defines ethical healthcare professionals.

Non-Rational Ethical Decision Making

• Habit plays a crucial role in moral decision-making, avoiding repetitive systematic processes for familiar issues.
• Both good habits (e.g., truth-telling) and bad habits (e.g., lying) exist.
• Similar situations may require different decisions, so reliance on habit alone is insufficient.

Obligation-Based Ethics

• Actions reflect an individual's intention to maintain self-respect and autonomy.

Ethical Principles in Practice

• Achieving good results does not justify unethical means; incorrect to rationalize bad actions.
• The non-maleficence principle indicates tube feeding is only contraindicated if it unlikely improves status; answer is False.

Obedience and Authority in Ethics

• Obedience often guides ethical decisions, especially in children and structured environments (military, police, businesses).
• Morality is defined by following rules from authority figures, regardless of personal agreement.

Key Statements on Ethics

• The claim that there are no universal truths in ethics challenges the idea of correct and incorrect customs; this statement is True or False based on context.
• Failing to meet obligations of beneficence is termed negligence.

Explore the significance of virtue in ethical decision-making, especially within the healthcare profession. This quiz examines how individual characteristics influence moral principles and the effectiveness of habitual moral decision-making. Test your understanding of virtue ethics and its application.