Deontology Vs Utilitarianism

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According to the dictionary, ethics are moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or conducting of an activity. It is a vital component in the medical field because it deals with moral dilemmas that might arise due to conflicts in duties or obligations as well as their potential outcomes. Bioethics is based on four key principles: autonomy, beneficence, justice and nonmaleficence. Medical professionals must employ a systematic approach when establishing these principles in their decision-making. While ethical principles are precise by definition, the implementation of these principles are more complex. What happens when more than one contradictory ideals come into question? For instance, when obligation to the patient and duty to society are misaligned. When it comes to decision-making, two principle ethical theories play a major part: deontology and utilitarianism. Though deontological and utilitarian theories agree on the significance of certain principles i.e. autonomy, the reasons they do so are very different. These differences will be briefly examined to gain a deeper understanding of each theory and to help determine which, if any, ethical theory applies best in the medical profession and if these theories are adequate guidelines for medical professionals.
Application of these principles to healthcare requires a prior understanding of both …show more content…

The doctor-patient relationship should be deontological because such a relationship requires the doctor to treat the patient with respect and as ends in themselves. Deontology is a duty based ethics, therefore, what one person should do in relation to another regardless of the “maximum benefit”. The deontological perspective gives doctors the motivation to do good for each patient they meet. It values the carefulness of each individual and thus cements the doctor-patient

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