Ethical Theories in Nursing & Healthcare Practice

Ethical Theories in Nursing & Healthcare Practice

1. Ethical Theories
Dr. EsraaMohammed Soltan
Lecturer of Nursing Administration-
Suez Canal University
Diploma of Health Professions
Education (DHPE)

2. Outline:
•Introduction.
•Definition of ethical theory.
•Common ethical theories:
•Teleology
•Deontology
•Situational
•Caring-based
•Summary.

3. Introduction:
Ethicaltheoriesattempttoprovideasystemof
principlesandrulesforresolvingethicaldilemmas.
Ethicaltheoriesconsistoffundamentalbeliefsabout
what'smorallyrightorwrong,andproposereasons
formaintainingthosebeliefs.

4. Definition of ethical theory:
Ethicaltheoryisasystemofprinciplesbywhicha
personcandeterminewhatshouldandshouldnotbe
done.

5. Definition of ethical theory:
Ethicaltheoryisdefinedas'thestudyofthenature
andjustificationofgeneralethicalprinciplesthatcan
beappliedtomoralproblems,andattemptstoprovide
amorerigoroussystematicapproachtohow
decisionsaremade‘.

6. Ethical
theories
Teleology Deontology Situational
Caring-
based

7. Teleology:
•Teleologyisanethicaltheorythatstatesthatthevalue
ofasituationisdeterminedbyitsconsequences.
•Thecriterionfordeterminingthevalueofanactionis
theoutcomeofanaction,nottheactionitself.
•Anexamplewouldbeimmunizations-receivingan
injectionisnot'good',butpreventingtheillnessis.

8. Teleology (cont.):
•Abasicconceptofteleologyistheprincipleofutility,which
statesthatanactmustresultinthegreatestpositivebenefit
forthegreatestnumberofpeopleinvolved.
•Thus,anyactcanbeethicalifitdeliverspositiveresults.
•Allalternativesareassessedforpotentialoutcomes,both
negativeandpositive.
•Theactionselectedresultsinthemostbenefitsandtheleast
harmforallinvolved.

9. Drawback of teleology:
•Althoughthegoalisthegreatesthappinessforthe
greatestnumberofpeople,thisapproachcan
overlooktherightsofanindividual.

10. When to rely on teleology?
•Nurseleadersandmanagersmayrelyonteleology
approachwhenestablishingstaffingschedules,
whenhonoringtime-offrequests,orintimesofhigh
censuswhendeterminingwhomtodischargeto
makeroomforpatientsrequiringcarethatismore
acute.

11. Deontology:
•DeontologycomesfromtheGreekworddeon,meaning
"thatwhichisobligatory."Thebasicpremiseof
deontologyisthattherightnessorwrongnessofaction
oftendependsonthenatureoftheactratherthanthe
consequencesoftheact.
•Theprincipleofdutyprovidesthefoundationof
deontology,whichassumesapersonismoralwhenthey
actfromasenseofduty.

12. Deontology (cont.):
•Deontologyrecognizesthedignityandautonomyof
individualsandnegatespaternalism.
•Deontologysupportsthenotionsthatallindividuals
mustrespecttheirownhumanityandthatapersonis
nevertobetreatedasameanstoanend.
•Deontologystressesequaltreatmentofallpeople,
respect,freedom,andhumandignity.

13. Drawback of deontology:
•Itcanberigidanddoesnotassistnursesinchoosing
alternativestosolveanethicaldilemma.

14. When to rely on deontology?
•Nurseleadersandmanagersmayrelyonthe
deontologyapproachwhenneedingtomaintainan
objectiveapproachtomakinghiringdecisions,
makingdailystaffassignments,andpromotingthe
mostqualifiedstaffmembers.

15. Deontology vs Teleology:

16. Situational theory:
•Thesituationaltheoryholdsthattherearenosetnorms,
rules,ormajority-focusedresults.
•Eachsituationmustbeconsideredindividually,withan
emphasisontheuniquenessofthesituationandrespect
forthepersoninvolved.
•Decisionsmadeinonesituationcannotbegeneralized
toothersituations.

17. Caring-based theory:
•Caring-basedtheoryisfoundedontheideathatethical
decisionsarenotmadebasedonprinciplesbutaremadewith
respecttorelationships,communication,caring,
responsivenessandadesirenottohurtothers.
•Caring-basedtheoryfocusesonemotions,feelingsand
attitudes.
•Theethicalconceptofcaringisviewedbysocietyasthe
coreofthenurse'srole.

18. Summary:
•Introduction.
•Definition of ethical theory.
•Common ethical theories:
•Teleology
•Deontology
•Situational
•Caring-based

19. References:
•Chitty,K.K.,&Black,B.P.(2011).Professionalnursing:
concepts&challenges.
•Gray,S.,Ferris,L.,White,L.E.,Duncan,G.,&Baumle,W.
(2018).Foundationsofnursing:Enrollednurses.Cengage
AU.
•Ferrell,K.(2015).Nurse'sLegalHandbook.Lippincott
Williams&Wilkins.

20. References (cont.):
•Murray,E.(2017).Nursingleadershipandmanagement:for
patientsafetyandqualitycare.FADavis.
•Northway,R.(2009).Patients'Rights,LawandEthicsfor
Nurses:APracticalGuide.NurseResearcher,16(4),88-89.