I share with you these definition of "ethics" by second year Monash medical students (2013). These definitions come from students who have had four two-hour facilitated tutorials (me as the facilitator) on "ethics". In the final of the four sessions, I ask the students to write down their definition of "ethics". I do this at the beginning of the four sessions too, but this early set of definitions is used to facilitate discussion over the four sessions.
Because of the way we assess students, by exam mostly, the recall of learned knowledge, I felt obliged to have students practice "writing". They have only two or three minutes in class to summarise hours of discussion into no more than two sentences (given a short answer question on "ethics" is worth two marks). Like me, I think any reader will be impressed with what the students have come up with here. Do I have a favourite definition? You tell me your favourite, then i'll tell you mine ;)
@MDPStudy
What is ethics?
Ethics is
a concept that involves considering the most humanitarian or caring method of
acting. In medicine, it involves
ensuring that decisions are influenced by what is best for the patient.
Ethics is
about an awareness that your perspective of a situation is coloured by your
experiences, attitudes and beliefs.
Thus, it emphasises the importance in analysing your decisions and
empathising with the ideas of others in the same situation even if they differ.
Ethics is
the decisions made on a daily basis and the values, beliefs and morals that
drove these decisions. It relates to
empathising with others and should drive these choices also.
Ethics is
the framework around which all of our decisions, both everyday decisions and
medical ones are based. It relies on
each of our morals, values and principles to form calculated decisions about
what we believe to be right.
Ethics is
an understanding of the different perspectives and situations that people live
and work in, and the application of this to our decisions and world views.
Ethics is
about understanding that different people have various interpretations of the
same thing and putting that into practice.
It is about appreciating and respecting people’s preferences and choices
about their lifestyle and health.
Ethics is
having empathy for others while putting yourself in others shoes.
Ethics
are the moral principles that govern everyday life. They comprise the personal principles that an
individual lives by and makes their decisions by. Ethics are influenced by the environment a
person lives in as well as the people they meet and other ethical frameworks
they encounter.
Conducting
yourself in a manner that benefits the patient, does not harm the patient and
in the best interests of the patient.
- Autonomy
- Beneficence
- Justice
- No harm
Ethics is
the consideration of the many interconnecting values that underlie every human
thought, action and decision. These
values stem from basic moral principles that, although subjective, are shared
by most individuals.
In
relation to medicine it is how much information must be disclosed by the
medical practitioner in order to be completely transparent with the patients so
they can make an informed, autonomous decision.
Ethics is
the process of applying empathy in decision making processes.
Ethics is
a concept describing how we go about making decisions by taking into account
the circumstances of other individuals and following our own set of moral
codes.
An
individuals morals and values as influenced by their environment, culture,
religion etc. Ethics refers to an
individuals integrity and moral compass.
To
perform humanely even if it is not bounded by law. Justice, fair, transparent. To find a collegial solution (not simply a
decision). Outcome for greater
good. Recognise our values/bias on
interpretation and judgement.
Ethics in
a set of moral principles that guide us in relation to decisions that are…..
Being
aware of ones own values and bias and others and making objective judgements about
it is in our behaviour and decisions.
Core values – autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice.
Framework
of morals that guides behaviour and decisions.
A set of
morals, principles, beliefs, and ideas which aid in guiding out actions be it
good or bad.
Ethics is
the culmination of ones rules and moral ideals.
Set of
guidelines to guide society towards certain moral values.
A
personal interpretation on and application of legal and moral issues based on
personal knowledge, experience and culture.
Ethics is
about fulfilling responsibilities in a personal sense as a member of society
and in a professional sense as the provider of a service.
Ethics is
being aware of ones self-bias. It is
about following a moral compass to guide you to the more appropriate course of
action in a given circumstance.
Ethics is
a tool used to guide our choices and decision-making. Whereas law distinguishes between legal and
illegal actions, ethics provides models which allow us to critique our thinking
and better understand accepted codes of conduct within society.
@MDPStudy
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