Form of study in with ethicists determine and elucidate what various individuals or groups of people consider moral or immoral, right or wrong, good or bad

Does not attempt to determine whether individual or society's values or moral code are true, right or good; simply delineates them as their adherents understand them

EX: Euthanasia is an ethical concept=Euthanaesia is topic in the field of ethics

Sets forth claims in ethic about what is held actually to be right, true or superior ethical conduct

EX: Euthanasia is an ethnically right or good thing

Type of ethical theory that determines rightness or wrongness on basis of universally applicable duries or obligations which may be derived from religious authority, rationality or social contract. Moral correctness NOT based on assessment of consequences rather on its conformity and consistency with duty or obligation.

Common Rule: Always act in such a way that you could will your standard to be a universal rule for all to follow

Example: It is bad to lie because if everyone lied human interaction would be impaired.

Contradiction: Sometimes it is necessary to lie (i.e. to stop someone from killing someone else)

Type of consequentialism

Makes moral assessments on basis of comparing consequences of actions in order to determin which outcome maximizes good and minimizes bad.

Greatest good for greatest number of people.

Criticism: Majority could enslave majority. Some people die to determine new cancer therapy.

Ethical theory that emphasizes inner character and motivations of individual moral actor and insists that analysis of principles, rights, obligations and consequences is not fully adequate without cultivation of good character attributes and habits.

Virtues that physicians should have: objectivity, detachment, caring, clinical benevolence, humility, courage, subordination to self-interest of pt

Criticism: Two virtuous people can have different opinions about abortion

1.) Autonomy: right of competent adults to decide what is best for themselves, even if other believe them to be harming themselves by the result of their decisions

2.) Non-maleficence: Do no harm

3.) Beneficence: obligation to do good for others, especially the obligation of physicians and other health professionals to promote well being and best-interest of pt

4.) Justice: fairness and equity; fair distribution of resources in society (i.e. organs for transplantation)