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How deontological ethics differ from utilitarian ethics
How deontological ethics differ from utilitarian ethics
The difference between utilitarianism and deontological theory of ethics
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Utilitarian and Deontology ethics and Ebola Quarantine
Recently, there has been a large outbreak of the Ebola Hemorrhagic virus in West Africa, causing wide spread suffering and death in the region. In effect, many humanitarian missions have been deemed necessary to help countries treating patients suffering from the virus, as well as preventing the expansion of the epidemic. Unfortunately, some of the medical personnel who went on the humanitarian missions have returned to their own countries only to come down with the virus days later. As a result, some states in the U.S. implemented a mandatory 21 day quarantine for any person coming back from West Africa who treated a person infected with the Ebola virus. This quarantine was enforced on Kaci Hickox, a nurse, who was taken straight from the airport to a hospital and held for days after informing officials about her job abroad and having an elevated temperature after being questioned for several hours. The question in this case is it ethically right to make a mandatory quarantine for humanitarians. By applying both the Utilitarian and Deontological rational we can understand the perspective used to justify the quarantine or reject it.
The utilitarian ethical theory and deontological ethical theory are both normative theories but complete opposites. The Utilitarian ethical theory focuses on the outcome of a decision or action rather than if the action is right or wrong in the in the first place. On the other hand the deontological ethical theory focuses on whether the initial action of the decision is right or wrong regardless of the outcome or consequences. With that in mind, both theories have several arguments that could justify the quarantine or reject it.
Using the util...
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... perspective is applied, the outcome could be positive by preventing the spread of the disease in America, or negative, causing a worldwide pandemic. The deontological perspective straight up shoots down the mandatory quarantine because it takes away the individuals rights. The most compelling theory is the deontology theory, it completely under minds the argument in support of the quarantine, and could in effect the rights of Americans in the future. A better solution than a 21 day mandatory quarantine would be to request the humanitarians to do regular self-examinations and try to have little as possible contact for the first eight to ten days back from West Africa. This is the average time it takes for the virus to manifest itself. After that self-examinations should still be done until he 21 period is over, but minimal contact is not necessary.
Third world countries and underdeveloped nations have become the new proverbial Petri dish of experimentation and offer particular conditions which researchers would never be able to find in their home countries. This only serves to highlight the problem that inherently faces all research studies, the ethical debate in regards to the protection and rights of their subjects. Is it feasible to expect the same standards to apply in certain countries where an economical imbalance between what is possible and what is not can be the largest hurdle to overcome? These are key issues examined in the New England Journal of Medicine by author Marcia Angell, M.D., and co-authors Harold Varmus, M.D. and David Satcher, M.D. in their respective articles that consider the ethical standards that should prevail in such circumstances. Should researchers be upheld to universal standards, or are the standards more applicable in a “local” sense, where the conditions and the constraints of the location provide the context for how the principles should be applied?
Deontological moral theory is a Non-Consequentialist moral theory. While consequentialists believe the ends always justify the means, deontologists assert that the rightness of an action is not simply dependent on maximizing the good, if that action goes against what is considered moral. It is the inherent nature of the act alone that determines its ethical standing. For example, imagine a situation where there are four critical condition patients in a hospital who each need a different organ in order to survive. Then, a healthy man comes to the doctor’s office for a routine check-up.
This case is very recent and relevant to the Ebola epidemic effecting the world today. The facts of this case are:
The Virtue, Utilitarianism, and Deontological concepts all have something in a common. Each one of these three concepts concentrates on an individual’s actions leading to various options, in addition to how the options affected others. The variations within each of these concepts are who engaged and was impacted by those options. The Virtue concept concentrates on an individual's character. One could stay in their lifestyle by seeking quality in everything they and others do (Boylan, 2009). The Utilitarianism concept considers that an activity, which is created to the advantage of a team, is fairly appropriate, if it delivers the biggest advantage to that team (Boylan, 2009). Utilitarianism is frequently known through the motto, “The biggest excellent for the biggest variety (Boylan, 2009).” between the three theories, Deontology is the most different. This concept moves around ones choice to control. Deontologists create options depending on understanding that something is right without concern to the higher excellent of others (Boylan, 2009).
The act utilitarian believes that an action is right if the results are good or wrong if the results are bad. A person who believes in the rule of utilitarianism will judge the doctors based on the results. An example is if the experiment is a success and the cure of cancer is found then, it is a correct. On the other hand, if the experiment fails, the action would be judged as wrong, since no good has come out of it .This will not only paralyze the patient’s health, but the hospital will also have to face punishment due to their unethical behavior (Shafer-Landau, 2014). The fact that the hospital acted in an irrational way it has to be judged as an act of that lacks human decency.
In this assignment we are to determine the moral difference between Deontological moral theory and Utilitarianism with regard to the changing of lives on a chance twist of fate with the brakes blowing out of the Trolley excursion. To turn or not to turn that is the question. Weather it is nobler of the heart and mind to follow the path of one and not the other remains a personal choice.
Quarantining became a relevant method used to keep a contagious disease in a confined area, rather than allowing it to rapidly spread across a country. Also, vaccines became a popular interest of scientists and doctors looking for cures to various illnesses. But, quarantines and vaccines were not the only prevention methods used to try and eradicate the flu; Canadians also used home remedies, public-humiliation, mask-warnings and public-building closures as a weapon against the pandemic. Learning from the past is the best way to improve in the future. Canadians proved this with an incredible advancement in disease prevention techniques while combating the deadly Spanish Influenza of
Many states and colonies across the globe issued detailed sets of directives to their residents on what exactly they should do if they come into contact with the illness. One such example is the directive issued by T.W.H. Holmes, the Secretary of the Victoria Board of Public Health in Australia. The directive details the symptoms, complications, treatment, and prevention of the disease. Something very common during the outbreak of any pandemic is the use of quarantines to separate the sick and the healthy. In fact, that is the first order for prevention of disease in T.W.H. Holme...
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.
They have very different perspectives and can determine various types of challenges in cases such like the Quinlan case. The ethical position that is most agreeable is utilitarianism. Deontological is the moral decision. Utilitarianism is the moral outcomes from a decision. The Quinlan case a tragic event of a 21year old woman in a coma and the debate of her end of life management. The deontological point of view sided with the hospital and utilitarian point of view sided with the family. From personal experience, I believe utilitarianism is the best the ethical principal for this case because it is focused on the relief of the family and Karen Quinlan. Ethics is basis of making moral decisions and outcome
Thesis Statement: The deadly virus Ebola is killing thousands of innocent people world wide, but there are some simple steps that are being taken to prevent this coming tide of death.
The delivery of healthcare mandates a lot of difficult decision making for healthcare providers as well as patients. For patients, much of the responsibility is left to them especially when serious health problems occur. This responsibility deals with what treatments could be accepted, what treatments could be continued, and what treatments could be stopped. Overall, it considers what route should be taken in regards to the health interests of the patient. However, there are circumstances in which patients cannot decide for themselves or communicate what they want in terms of their healthcare. This is where the ethical issue concerning who should be responsible for making these important healthcare decisions occur if a patient was to be in this sort of situation. Healthcare providers can play a role in the healthcare decision making as their duty is to act in the best interest of the patient.
“Doctors told to prepare for global outbreak after Ebola victim was allowed on two planes” - - www.mirror.co.uk
Deontological ethics would have us look at the situation based on the best efforts for the future. Based on the procedure of three formulations (tests) that help us make moral decisions. The first formulation is comprised of four steps; being self-aware of your actions, putting information from step one into a maxim, testing the universality of the maxim you have created, and
People are faced with difficult decisions that affect their lives on a daily basis. Thinking these decisions through and taking full consideration off all aspects should be taken at all times. In the case study, a certain Ms. A, has been diagnosed with carcinoma of the cervix. She has been told that the disease is treatable by performing a hysterectomy, however, the thought of this makes her apprehensive. Consequently, her doctor is now faced with a dilemma, if he tells her the risks having her push back the surgery. So, he wonders if he should tell her husband about all the risks and just tell ms. A that things will go well. He has to weigh out all the consequences before coming to a concrete decision. Thus, if he informs her of the risks and she postpones it she risks the disease getting worse and if he tells only the husband she will be treated immediately