PHL281H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter Wicclair: Conscientious Objector, Decision-Making
Conscientious objection
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
3:48 AM
Wicclair
Ethical relativism
1. Ethical statements only have truth value in relation to some moral framework
2. There are several different frameworks, and when they clash, none is more privileged
Too anemic of a moral concept to support CO
Toleration of moral diversity
• Should tolerate and not impose our ethical beliefs on others
Problems: Moral principles may stretch to include all physicians/not at all. Extreme: Physicians are never
obligated to follow ethical standards they reject.
• Value neutrality is not an acceptable goal for medicine
Respect for autonomy- physicians
• Too broad
• Possible to respect conscience but not autonomy: can withdraw from care but cannot prescribe
manner of care believed in (an ethical standard believed in)
• Appeal to conscience: Calls morality into question
• Appeal to autonomy: opens you up to questions of ethics
• Appeal to conscience: Shields you from ethical questioning
Respect for moral integrity
• Physicians assert that moral integrity is at stake, appeal to conscience is attempt to preserve
moral integrity
Implications
1. Physician has core ethical values
2. Core ethical values are integral to self conception/identity
3. Would be incompatible with those to participate in X- significant harm due to loss of self respect
Medicine is a moral enterprise
1. Decision making is guided by obligations to patient rather than self interest
2. Decision making should be informed by ethical/professional standards, not mere technician
To have moral weight, basis must be compatible/correspond with core values of medicine
Patient autonomy/dignity still has weight
Transferring patients: Does not ultimately preserve moral integrity of the original physician as they
haven't actually acted in accordance with their believed moral duty
Guidelines
1. Conscience based objections have more moral weight when part of physician's core values (than
peripheral beliefs).
Document Summary
Ethical relativism: ethical statements only have truth value in relation to some moral framework, there are several different frameworks, and when they clash, none is more privileged. Too anemic of a moral concept to support co. Should tolerate and not impose our ethical beliefs on others. Problems: moral principles may stretch to include all physicians/not at all. Extreme: physicians are never obligated to follow ethical standards they reject: value neutrality is not an acceptable goal for medicine. Respect for moral integrity: physicians assert that moral integrity is at stake, appeal to conscience is attempt to preserve moral integrity. Implications: physician has core ethical values, core ethical values are integral to self conception/identity, would be incompatible with those to participate in x- significant harm due to loss of self respect. Medicine is a moral enterprise: decision making is guided by obligations to patient rather than self interest, decision making should be informed by ethical/professional standards, not mere technician.
