The ethics and values of a religion or faith are considered paramount in decision-making, especially when regarding human rights and personal health issues. In recent times, with the introduction of modern medical procedures, such as medical research, abortion and organ donation, medical legislation and ethics have had to undergo a colossal reformation in order to keep up with these contemporary issues. The approach, in which these decisions are formulated, usually religiously, can often be placed into one of two categories: deontological or teleological. These categories can be used in identifying medical issues in both a Catholic and Islamic perspective.
The concept of patient rights has developed immensely over the last century, with
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Deontology values the connection between obligation and morality and has consistent moral patterns with the concept of Divine Command. In deontology an action is considered moral based purely upon the action and not its consequences, and in some circumstances these actions are considered a moral obligation regardless of their effect on human life. On the other hand, teleology considers an action moral by its consequences and effect on human life. A clear example of teleology can be found in Natural …show more content…
Catholicism also falls under the theory of Divine Command, a branch of deontology relying almost solely on religious doctrine. For example, according to an article published in ‘The Humanist’ (Boston, R. 2011), a Catholic pharmacist, in Idaho, US, refused to fill a patient’s prescription for Methergine, which is commonly used to regulate bleeding in the uterus, insisting that the drug would be used as an abortifacient (a medication used to bring about abortions) and also refused to refer her elsewhere. It was also noted in this article that some Catholic pharmacists were proclaiming their right to refuse to assist with prescriptions that contradict their religious beliefs, which has been ratified in legislation in some US states. The pharmacist in this situation is shown to have displayed the use of the Divine Command theory, along with deontology, in her response to the patient’s requested medication. This is a clear example of deontology, as the Catholic pharmacist refused to commit an act considered wrong in the eyes of the Catholic Church, regardless of the outcome, although the medication the patient had requested was legal. However, in this situation, the patient’s rights to adequate healthcare were disrupted. As outlined by Boston in the article, “When religion and the rights of those in need clash,
Deontology diverges from consequentialism because deontology concentrates on the rightness or wrongness of the actions themselves instead of the consequences. There are different types of deontological theories. According to Kant, theoretical reasoning helps us discover what we should believe whereas the practical reasoning tells us what we should do. Morality falls under theoretical reasoning. In Kantian deontology, motives matter. Rather than consequences, it is the motive of an action makes that action morally right or wrong. Likewise, if an action intends to hurt someone, but eventually it benefits the other person, then it does not make that action morally right. All in all, deontology comes down to common-sense: whether it is a good action or a bad
Medicine, as a fundamental part of the human life, has existed and has been practiced for many decades. Throughout the centuries, it has dramatically changed and evolved in order to benefit, relieve, and comfort the physical and emotional state of being of the general public. One of these significant changes has been the introduction of ethics in the field of medicine. By definition, ethics refers to "the branch of philosophy that deals with the distinction between right and wrong, with the moral consequences of human actions" (Dirckx, 304). Today, ethics is a large system that is primarily classified into two major parts: professional and personal. Professional ethics divide into few sections, including
In Rethinking Life and Death: The Collapse of Our Traditional Values, Peter Singer examines ethical dilemmas that confront us in the twentieth century by identifying inconsistencies between the theory and practice of ethics in medicine. With advancements in medical technology, we focus on the quality of patients’ lives. Singer believes that in this process, we have acknowledged a new set of values that conflicts with the doctrine of the sanctity of life.
One notable example of an ethical dilemma presented within this report is the battle of belief referring to a situation where some patients tend to reject specific medical procedures attributed to the religious, cultural, or personal beliefs. Every patient has the right to decision based on his or her beliefs thereby meaning that patients may reject specific medical procedures based on what they believe (Guido, 2014). However, this conflicts with the position of the nurses who are mandated with providing their patients with the best quality of medical services as part of promoting positive health outcomes. The best remedy for this specific ethical dilemma would involve having to hold a discussion between the nurse and the patient where the nurse would accord the patient his or her clinical
Deontology is an ethical theory concerned with duties and rights. The founder of deontological ethics was a German philosopher named Immanuel Kant. Kant’s deontological perspective implies people are sensitive to moral duties that require or prohibit certain behaviors, irrespective of the consequences (Tanner, Medin, & Iliev, 2008). The main focus of deontology is duty: deontology is derived from the Greek word deon, meaning duty. A duty is morally mandated action, for instance, the duty never to lie and always to keep your word. Based on Kant, even when individuals do not want to act on duty they are ethically obligated to do so (Rich, 2008).
As human beings, we are inundated throughout our lives with ethical dilemmas. While these difficult choices are challenging, those dilemmas associated with medical choices can be extremely problematic. Families and medical professionals must decide the fates of people every day. A medical scenario involving an elderly woman named Jamilah Shah will be referenced throughout the work. This essay will dissect the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, and justice, and how they help or complicate medical decision making.
In this diverse society we are confronted everyday with so many ethical choices in provision of healthcare for individuals. It becomes very difficult to find a guideline that would include a border perspective which might include individual’s beliefs and preference across the world. Due to these controversies, the four principles in biomedical ethic which includes autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice help us understand and explain which medical practices are ethical and acceptable. These principles are not only used to protect the rights of a patient but also the physician from being violated.
Deontological ethics are “ethical theories that place special emphasis on the relationship between duty and the morality of human actions” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2018). This viewpoint focuses more on the action itself rather than the outcome. Per Kant’s Categorical Imperative one should “so act that you treat humanity in your own person and in the person of everyone else always at the same time as an end and never merely as means” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2018). An example of this is that killing is wrong, even if it is in self-defense. Many of the values and morals of the ELI Responsibilities Lens are based on the deontological
Also, since deontologists place a high value on the individual, in some instances it is permissible not to maximize the good when it is detrimental to yourself. For example, one does not need to impoverish oneself to the point of worthlessness simply to satisfy one’s moral obligations. Deontology can be looked at as a generally flexible moral theory that allows for self-interpretation but like all others theories studied thus far, there are arguments one can make against its reasoning. One objection to deontological moral theory is that the theory yields only absolutes and cannot always justify its standpoints.
Ethics refers to the values and customs of a community at a particular point in time. At present, the term ethics is guided by the moral principles that guide our everyday actions. These moral principles guide the researcher into deciding what is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. The foundation of medical ethics is governed by two philosophical frameworks: deontology, and utilitarianism. However, ultimately, the ethics committees need to balance the risks, and benefits for the participants and the community associated with the particular research proposal.
Normative ethics involves either a single rule or a set of principles to evaluate moral conduct. Teleology stipulates that acts are morally acceptable if they produce some desired result. Deontology on the other hand, focuses on the preservation of individual rights and on the intentions associated with a particular behavior. In summation, teleological philosophies consider the ends, or consequences, associated with an action whereas deontological philosophies consider the means (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2011). This is why teleology is commonly referred to as Consequentialism. In addition to the rule, deontology also cites individual absolute rights: freedom of conscience, freedom of consent, freedom of privacy, freedom of speech, and due process. Deontologist employ this set of freedoms because they believe certain rights should never be violated even if it is to produce a greater good (Ferre...
For a few thousand years most of what people did was hunting and gathering. Than they started to do farming which was a great way to feed more people. The Egyptians lived by the Nile and the soil was fertile, so it was good for farming. Once they started farming there was more population because they could feed more. With more people the civilization started to become more complex.
Deontology, on the other hand, emphasizes on the moral intuitions that guide one’s conscience for or against certain actions (Curcă, 2013). Deontologists are the opposites of utilitarians because the essential judgment of taking or not taking a course of action is observed in its strictest sense. Apart from feelings and conditions, deontologists also consider the consequences of not following religious rules and natural laws of morality to guide every course of action. Thus, deontologists value three major principles of decision-making: intrinsic morality, the duty of care, and the moral consequences of an action.
The teleological ethical theory is defined as "a teleological theory says that the basic or ultimate criterion or standard of what is morally right, wrong, obligatory, etc... is the nonmoral value that is brought into being" (Frankena, 1973, 14). In other words, the rightness or wrongness of an act is based upon the consequences of the act. If the action brought about good consequences, then the act must have been the right thing to do. If it brought about bad consequences, then it must have been the wrong thing to do. The moral value of something is contingent upon the comparative nonmoral value. Teleological ethical systems are the opposite of deontological systems. It judges the consequences of the act rather than judging the act itself. If the results can be considered good consequences, then the act must have been good (Frankena, 1973, 14).
There are many negative aspects of legalizing euthanasia. One of the important negative factors would be the power that the doctor has in deciding about the patient’s life. As it is written in the book “A natural law ethics approach”, legalizing applications of euthanasia’s forms are attributing the doctors the role of God (Paterson 28-29). As a result, it becomes doctor’s decision for the patient, for h...