Moral theories and focus on their ethical decisions

Moral theories and focus on their ethical decisions

Introduction
Virtue theory
Virtue theory outlines that the right thing or ethical decision is what a good person would
do in such situation. Aristotle believes that what separates virtuous people from the others is the
desire to think and behave according to reason. It emphasizes moral character or virtue in
contrast to duties or rules or consequences of the actions of a moral person. The core essence of
medicine is to improve the wellbeing of the patient and thus doctors use broad skills and
autonomy of patient in doing well to the patient. In this case, doctors form a virtuous character in
judging through a method of education and habit in helping their patients.
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is a common moral theory that outline that actions of a person are either
morally right or morally wrong depending on their consequences or effects. The aim of a moral
act is to maximize happiness and maximizing human welfare is the only factor that determines
the rightness of the actions. In this case, utilitarianism argues that medicine should be concerned
with increasing the good things that include happiness and pleasure, and decreasing bad things
that include unhappiness and pain. Utilitarianism rejects customs, traditions, and or orders from
supernatural beings or leaders. Utilitarianism entails impartiality assumption which is the idea
that one should not be concerned about whose welfare is to be maximized in the moral decisions.
For instance, parents have moral concern for the welfare of all children, but most think they have
a special concern on the welfare of their own children. In this case, this perspective is ignored
from utilitarian perspective.
Kantian Ethics and Deontology
Kantian ethics and deontology utilizes rules to distinguish moral right from moral wrong.
Kant outline that ethical actions follow universal moral laws and people should follow the rules
and do their duty. The ‘Maxim’ guiding an action is important in determination of rightness and
includes the means and ends of an action. Medical officers have a duty to do what is best for the
patient and not the effects.
Principles
The four principles include justice, autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence offer a
theoretical framework of making ethical decisions in medicine. Justice theory requires equal
access of healthcare resources while autonomy outline that patients are free and require
protection of private health care information. Autonomy requires the physician to consider the
unique needs of the patient and include the view of the patient in determining the preferred
treatment plan alternative. The principles group moral considerations of biomedicine.
Casuistry
This is case-based reasoning using past reasoning on morally problematic cases and
determining what should be done in new situations. The first step is ‘theme determination’ which
is specifying and classification of specific considerations which include legal considerations,
status of health, and social background of the patient. The first step is making rational judgment
on factors to be considered and entail interpretation of maxims or principles. Casuistry is an
independent moral logic, but entails general moral interpretations and consinderations in certain
cases. This means casuistry is consistent with four principles theory and takes serious

consideration in promoting human welfare. The third step is identifying feature of casuistry
which is referred to as argument by logic’. The moralist or medical doctor should ensure how
moral principles and maxims are likely to apply in the case is consistent with the way in which
they have weighted other similar, but distinct situations in the past.