Name
Capella University
PHI FPX 3200
Prof. Name
November, 2024
Ethical Theory Matrix
| Theory | Decision Criteria | Your Example | Strengths | Weaknesses |
| Utilitarianism | Every decision is made in the context of the ‘greatest good,’ meaning the highest level of happiness as well as the least amount of suffering for as many individuals as possible (Tseng et al., 2021). | Hiding the result from her by giving her a pregnancy test might save her from emotional stress as well as avoid family conflict which would be unhealthy for her physically and mentally. | According to utilitarianism, the welfare of people should be valued, which in turn leads to better development of societal bonds. According to this principle, the greatest overall utility is promoted since people align their actions with the highest benefit of other members of society and their group, ultimately fostering the achievement of both collective and shared goals (Feustel et al., 2019). | A major problem with utilitarianism is that it may tend to disregard the rights and needs of certain groups of people for the sake of benefiting the majority of others. This can lead to unfair & unjust results, as may be the case when a person’s rights are invariably violated in the quest for aggregative happiness or utility (Dale, 2020). |
| Kantian Ethics | Mental processes comprise intentions that are the results of moral purposes such as telling the truth and being just. It postulates the importance of moral action regardless of the outcome by reference to a set of principles. | In the present case, not exempting Missy’s details from secrecy validates the moral principle of relevance and truthfulness and the national value of the non-likeness of secrets. | You could also go further and say that one capacity in which Kantian ethics are sympathetic is that it recognizes the importance of reciprocation of respect and dignified treatment of all people regardless of what they personally may want. It confirms human dignity and the sanctity of all human life and encourages right action as consistent with moral absolutes (Smith, 2022). | Moreover, applying the concept of Kantian ethics may involve some restrictions in the further sense that it appears to be an extreme and unyielding ethical system because some actions are regarded as right or wrong in any case. Others include: a lack of focus on the overall welfare of people and unrealistic in real-life situations (Smith, 2022). |
| Ross’s Ethics | Relates one’s obligations to another by offsetting the roles they carry out, being loyal, telling the truth, or safeguarding. When there is a clash of duties, then the most important duty is performed given the contending situation. Yet it stresses that moral duties are prima facie duties, they can be overruled by other moral reasons. The theory also respects the fact that moral decision-making is often challenging and that every ethical issue has factors that should be considered.. | Staying silent in Missy’s case respects the value of confidentiality and avoiding further suffering than the responsibility to tell the truth or share the news with her family. | Ross’s ethics makes it easy to determine the best course of action given two or more moral dilemmas and takes into account the details of the actual situation. It also respects the fact that ethical decision-making is not an easy task and does not give straight reminders of moral responsibilities (Kolawole, 2022). | A clear drawback is that the prima facie duties may clash with one another and the main issue arises as to which one to follow. Furthermore, the theory throws silence on how conflicts between prima facie duties can be solved. This may result in a contradiction of decisions as well as bring a challenge in the quest for a solution (Feustel et al., 2019). |
| Natural Law Ethics | It derives from such fundamental human values as principles of right actions based on natural functions including family cohesiveness, preservation of life, and truthfulness (Tseng et al., 2021). | The dream of telling Missy’s family also shows the concept that parents have the possessive responsibility of correcting their children even when it spoils them for a while. | Natural law ethics in healthcare is therefore an ethic that is based on inherent moral values. It tells people in detail how to make a correct decision between right and wrong concerning their actions (Haker, 2020). | Natural Law Ethics also has prudential goods as some of its moral values which are beneficial in healthcare since the main goal of health is to improve the health of patients (Haker, 2020). |
PHI FPX 3200 Assessment 1 References
Dale, S. (2020). Utilitarianism in crisis. Voices in Bioethics, 6. https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/bioethics/article/view/6082
Feustel, A. C., MacPherson, A., Fergusson, D. A., Kieburtz, K., & Kimmelman, J. (2019). Risks and benefits of unapproved disease-modifying treatments for neurodegenerative disease. Neurology, 94(1), e1–e14. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000008699
Haker, H. (2020). Towards a critical political ethics: Catholic ethics and social challenges. In Google Books. Schwabe Verlag (Basel). https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=TxmvEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA5&dq=natural+law+ethics+in+healthcare&ots=9HDTuQX9YJ&sig=g4YAwHRNmqaaAOrk7AlunCB5Au8
Kolawole, A. S., & David, E. O. (2022). Patient-physician relationship: In defense of w. d. ross’s prima facie duties. Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics, 13(3), 35–43. http://bjbio.bioethics.org.bd/index.php/BJBio/article/view/48
Kudlek, K., & Smith, P. T. (2022). The Kantian promise and peril of moral bioenhancement. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 39(3), 487–503. https://doi.org/10.1111/japp.12575
Tseng, P.-E., & Wang, Y.-H. (2021). Deontological or utilitarian? An eternal ethical dilemma in outbreak. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8565. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168565
Vearrier, L., & Henderson, C. M. (2021). Utilitarian principlism as a framework for crisis healthcare ethics. HEC Forum, 33(1), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10730-020-09431-7
