6. VIRTUE ETHICS

Question 1

1. List the 4 Ethical Theories?

Answer 1

1. Consequentialism
2. Utilitarianism
3. Deontology
   (Rule-Based Ethics)
4. Virtue Ethics Theory
   (Virtuous Character of the Doctor)

Question 2

2. Where is Virtue Ethics traced back to?

Answer 2

• it is often traced back to ancient Greek Philosophy
• it is linked with the writings of Socrates and Aristotle
• it is linked with the writings of Mencius and Confucius
  in the East

Question 3

3. What is the Key Concept of Virtue Ethics?

Answer 3

1. VIRTUE:
   
   • this is a character trait or a skill
   • it a way of living
2. A PERSON’S BEHAVIOUR:
   
   • this is used as an indicator of their character
   • their actions allow us to assume that they have
     certain virtues

Question 4

4. According to Socrates, what does it mean to be virtuous?

Answer 4

• a man should live in order to achieve Eudaemonia
• this means that a man should live to achieve happiness
• a man should behave in order to flourish

Question 5

5. What is Eudaemonia?

Answer 5

• this is a term for the highest human good in old Greek
  tradition
• it is about achieving satisfaction of one’s purpose to
  the fullest extent
• it is a person’s state of excellence
• it is characterised by objective flourishing across a
  lifetime
• it is brought about through the exercise of moral
  virtue, practical wisdom, and rationality

Question 6

6. According to Rosalind Hursthouse and Philippa Foot, what does it mean to be virtuous?

Answer 6

• virtue is what promotes human flourishing

Question 7

7. According to Aristotle, what does it mean to be virtuous?

Answer 7

• a genuinely virtuous person is one who achieves true
  happiness and satisfaction

Question 8

8. According to Aristotle, what is the right and correct action to take in a situation?

Answer 8

• this is the act that a virtuous person would do in the
  circumstances
• a virtuous person is one who exhibits 4 cardinal virtues
• the focus is not on the nature or the consequences of
  the action

Question 9

9. What are the 4 Cardinal Virtues?

Answer 9

1. Prudence
2. Justice
3. Fortitude
4. Temperance

Question 10

10. What is Prudence?

Answer 10

• this is when the right reason is applied to an action
• a person is required to use their:
  
  • knowledge
  • understanding
  • skills
  • intuition
  • to decide on what action is the best

Question 11

11. What are the 3 steps of Prudence?

Answer 11

1. Counsel
2. Judge
3. Command

Question 12

12. What does it mean to Gnome?

Answer 12

• this is to use your wit or judgement when there has
  been a departure from the common rules
• it requires moral and intellectual virtue

Question 13

13. Why is Prudence important?

Answer 13

• it does not tie a medical practitioner to abstract rules
• this is because each patient is an individual case
• each patient should be treated as an individual case
• using intellectual reasoning will help us come up with
  the best treatment plan

Question 14

14. What is Justice?

Answer 14

• this is giving each patient what it due to them
• this is dependent on your patient’s specified needs
• treating the special needs of your patient ensure that
  the treatment is just
• it is about being fair to your patients
• it is about abiding to the notion that patients in similar
  positions should be treated in a similar manner

Question 15

15. What is equality?

Answer 15

• this is at the heart of justice

Question 16

16. What were Aristotle’s Views on Justice and Equality?

Answer 16

• justice is more than mere equality
• people can be treated unjustly even if they are treated
  equally
• Justice must abide by Horizontal Equity
• Justice must abide by Vertical Equity

Question 17

17. What is Horizontal Equity?

Answer 17

• the importance of treating equals equally

Question 18

18. What is Vertical Equity?

Answer 18

• the importance of treating non-equals unequally
• this is in proportion to the morally relevant inequalities

Question 19

19. What is Fortitude?

Answer 19

• this is moral courage
• it enables one to act reasonably and appropriately
• it is the ability to cope
• it is the ability to make sound decisions with firmness
  and strength
• it is the ability to make the right decision in the face of
  difficulty or when one is under pressure
  (EG: when a patient is in danger of death)

Question 20

20. What is Temperance?

Answer 20

• this is the ability to ensure that all the decisions you
  have made are well measured and moderated
• these decisions need to be free from any self-interest

Question 21

21. How do Medical Professionals practice Temperance?

Answer 21

• health care professionals may make decisions that
  involve putting the best interests of patients and the
  clinical team before one’s own
• they sacrifice their own personal interest to ensure the
  best possible outcome for the patients and the clinic

Question 22

22. Look at this case.
    How is Prudence applied to this case?

Answer 22

• the doctor was able to use their knowledge and the
  specific information of this case to change their
  approach to the patient when needed

Question 23

23. Look at this case.
    How is Justice applied to this case?

Answer 23

• the baby and the mother were given equal treatment
  chances by the clinical team

Question 24

24. Look at this case.
    How is Temperance applied to this case?

Answer 24

• there was no self-interest involved in the doctor’s
  decision making
• the limitations regarding the patient’s situation were
  taken into consideration
• the issues regarding the patient were dealt with at a
  Clinical Level
• this allowed for more perspectives to be present in the
  decision making process

Question 25

25. What are the 4 Distinctive Focuses of Virtue Ethics?

Answer 25

1. Virtue Ethics is Agent Based 2. Considering One's Character 3. A Virtuous Person Does Right Acts for the Right Motives 4. The Golden Mean

Question 26

26. What is meant by "Considering One's Character"?

Answer 26

- this revolves around being concerned with a person's motivation for action - it looks at their ethical behaviour - it is not concerned with the rightness or consequences of the action itself - it believes that an act can be beneficial, but the motivations for the act can still be morally wrong

Question 27

27. What is meant by "A virtuous person does right acts for the right motives"?

Answer 27

- a virtuous person will perform a virtuous act because of their character and their need to act in a virtuous way - a virtuous person's actions and behaviour require some kind of consistency throughout their lives

Question 28

28. What is meany by the "Golden Mean"?

Answer 28

- this is the belief that whatever is moderate is right - it involves courage - courage is found in the middle of cowardice and recklessness - courage is the ability to not be impulsive - courage is the ability to act bravely in the appropriate way

Question 29

29. What are the criticisms of Virtue Ethics?

Answer 29

1. Much of our behaviour is not a result of our character - it is not a result of our character traits and virtues - our behaviour is controlled by the situation we are in - our behaviour can be limited by the institutions we work for 2. Virtue theory may be too individualistic - the focus should be on what acts contribute to the good of all - which actions benefit the whole community 3. It can be unhelpful in resolving moral conflicts - even virtuous individuals are often unsure of how to act in particular situations 4. Virtues are subjective - they differ based on different societies, cultures, values etc.

Question 30

30. What do Virtue Ethics focus on in Medicine?

Answer 30

- they focus on the character of a virtuous doctor - doctors are defined by what they repeatedly do - a virtue is a good habit that is practiced consistently

Question 31

31. What happens to Doctors in the Medical World when it comes to virtues?

Answer 31

- the doctor becomes naturally oriented to do what is right - this is achieved through practice - the doctor will be naturally inclined to act in an ethical and legal manner - doctors will act simply for the good in itself - doctors will act for the medical good of their patient - doctors should not act out of fear

Question 32

32. Does a Doctor's good character alone ensure that the right decision is made?

Answer 32

- NO - a doctor's virtues must be linked to the obligations that the physician owes their patient - the doctor must be committed to the good of the patient over their own self-interest

Question 33

33. What was Pellegrino's outlook on Medical Virtues?

Answer 33

- the focus of Medical Ethics should be on the traits necessary to do the work of medicine well - the good of medicine is found in: - preservation of health - promotion of health - restoration of health

Question 34

34. According to Pellegrino and Thomasma, what virtues should a doctor have?

Answer 34

- trust - compassion - prudence - justice - fortitude - temperance - integrity - self-effacement

Question 35

35. According to Pellegrino, what virtues should a doctor have?

Answer 35

- fidelity - honesty - compassion - effacement - self interest - courage - justice

Question 36

36. According to the World Medical Association (WMA), what virtues should a doctor have?

Answer 36

- compassion - honesty - prudence - dedication NB: - these are the universal values - they are irrespective of context according to the WMA

Question 37

37. Read through this summary. Does everything make sense?

Answer 37

- yes

Question 38

38. Answer the following questions.

Answer 38

- you can answer them verbally or on paper