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Morals
Health Care Ethics
What is Morals?
What is Ethics?
MORALS comes from Latin word
Ethics
"mores" = customs or values
❖ Comes from a Greek word
Morals deal with the conduct of man,
"ethos" = moral duty the right and wrong behavior of man in
❖ Literally, it means custom or his relationship with his fellowmen.
particular behavior.
❖ Means “character" These are fundamental standard of right
❖ The principle of right or good or wrong, learned & internalized in early
conduct childhood, often based on religious
❖ Studies how people make judgment beliefs.
in regard to right or wrong
❖ The philosophical study of voluntary
human acts with the purpose of HOW DO WE DIFFERENTIATE ETHICS FROM
determining what good, right is and MORALS?
to be done, and what bad, wrong
Ethics can be defined as
and not to be done
❖ According to Cafferty Collins 2006
defines ethics as the study of standards is a set of principles
of conduct and the moral judgment and Ethics that governs one's
values upon which these standards are behavior
based relates to an
❖ Is a system of moral principles or individual's character
Morals and own personal
standard governing conduct. It is the
science of human duty. principles regarding
❖ Ethics teaches us when and why our right and wrong
actions are good or bad, right or
wrong. Morality
Morality is concerned with knowing and
Why is ETHICS important in Nursing? doing what is right.
Importance of ethics in nursing: each person Morality is a code of values to guide
has their own set of personal ethics and man's choices and actions
morals.

Ethics within healthcare are important

because workers must recognize Health Care Ethics
healthcare dilemmas, make good
➢ A science that deals with the study
judgments and decisions based on their
of the morality of human conduct
values while keeping within the laws that
concerning health and health care.
govern them.
➢ Deals with the conduct and moral
issues that arise in the practice of

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 health care professionals, nurses &
midwives included.
➢ It is concerned with health care
values, obligations, rights and
needs.
➢ It strives to resolve ethical issues
that often confront health care
professionals.
Ethical Theories
Ethical theories attempt to provide a
system of principles and rules for
resolving ethical dilemmas.
These theories consist of fundamental
beliefs about what is morally right or
wrong
1. Utilitarianism
2. Deontology
UTILITARIANISM
• determines what is right or wrong
based on an action's consequences.
(consequential)
• Using this system, decision makers
determine and choose those actions
that will result in the greatest good
for the greatest number of people.
(Happiness principle)
This theory accepts that if the end
justifies the means, then it is right.
Best story:
Robinhood (steal & distributes to the poor)
• Using this system, ethical decisions
most often are made through a
process called risk-benefit analysis.
• It can be argued that some
individual rights can be sacrificed for
the sake of the greater happiness of
the many.
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DEONTOLOGY
decision making is based on moral rules
and unchanging principles that centers
on DUTY and OBLIGATION to others.
Comes from a Greek word "deon"
meaning "duty".
• Deontology emphasizes moral
obligation or commitment.
• A person is morally good and
admirable if his actions are done
from a sense of duty or reason
Example: 10 Commandments
• A follower of pure deontology
believes in the absoluteness of
principles regardless of the
consequences of the decision.
• According to this theory, honouring
ethical obligations ensures good,
even though actions may be difficult
and consequences painful.
Virtues
are attitudes, dispositions, or character
traits that enable us to be and to act in
ways that develop this potential.
 They enable us to pursue the ideals
we have adopted.
 Examples of virtues: Honesty,
courage, compassion, generosity,
fidelity, integrity, fairness, self-control,
and prudence.
Virtue ethics in nursing is therefore
concerned with the character of
individual nurse and seek ways to
enable nurses to develop character traits
appropriate for actions that enhance
wellbeing.
 Ethical Dilemma
An ethical dilemma is the choice
between two or more equally justifiable
alternatives.
➢ Sometimes it requires an individual to
make a choice between two
equally unfavorable alternatives.
➢ The individual who must solve an
ethical dilemma is the only person
who can ascertain if actions taken
were congruent with personal values
Why does ethical dilemma occur?
Ethical dilemma occurs because people
have different ethical philosophy, follows
different philosophy in life and see life
situations at different perspectives.
Values
➢ comes from the Latin word "valere"
which means to be strong.
➢ Indeed, they are strongly held
beliefs/or convictions about what a
person holds to be important and
worthy in his or her life.
➢ Values are ideals and concepts that
give meaning to an individual's life.
➢ Values are shaped out of society's
norms, religion and family
orientation.
➢ Values are not permanent in
characteristics; they may change for
the better or for the worse.
What is meant by "CORE VALUES”?
Core values are the values we put on
 Our work
 Our clients
 Ourselves
 They can be central to the way we
give care and live our lives
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Core Values of a Professional Nurse
is concern for the welfare
and well - being of others.
Altruism is reflected by the
nurse's concern and
Altruism advocacy for the welfare
of patients, other nurses,
and healthcare providers.
Health care professional is
obligated to attend to the
best interest of patients
rather than self - interest.
is the right to self-
determination; it is when
the nurse respects
Autonomy
patients' rights to make
decisions about their
health care
is respect for the inherent
worth and uniqueness of
Human Dignity individuals and
population, it is reflected
when the nurse values and
respects all patients and
colleagues.
is acting in accordance
with an appropriate code
of ethics and accepted
standards of practice. It is
Integrity when the nurse is honest
and provides care based
on an ethical framework
that is accepted within the
profession.
is acting in accordance
with fair treatment
regardless of economic
Social Justice status, race, ethnicity, age,
citizenship, disability, or
sexual orientation.
is being accountable to
their patients, to society on
Accountability
issues of public health and
to their profession.
 nurses are obligated to
Excellence make a commitment of
lifelong learning.
should be available and
responsive accepting a
Duty commitment to service
within the profession and
the community.
should be committed to
Honor and being fair, truthful and
Integrity straightforward in their
interactions with patients
and the profession.
should demonstrate
Respect For respect for patients and
Others their family and to the
other members of the
health team.

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