Application of Virtue Ethics and Feminist Theory to Healthcare
Sylvia and Jack’s decision to coerce Olive to donate a kidney to Nancy can be assessed using different ethical theories. Specifically, analysis of Jack and Sylvia’s decision using virtue ethics and feminist theory both indicate that Jack and Sylvia didn’t take the correct course of action, suggesting that there may be other ethical considerations that play a role in decision making.
To determine whether Jack and Sylvia made the right decision, we must first understand virtue ethics and the feminist theory. Aristotle’s ethical thinking concerns how an individual can become a good person and develops good moral habits (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxii). When using Aristotle’s method of ethical decision making, the virtue is a key concept to consider (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxiii). Virtue is an acquired character trait that defines humans as a good person (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxiii). The Aristotelian mean also needs to be considered when facing a moral dilemma (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxiv). At the ends of the spectrum are the vice of deficiency and the vice of excess (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxiv).The vice of deficiency is “doing too little” while the vice of excess is “doing too much”. Between the vice of deficiency and vice of excess, is the mean, where the virtue lies (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxiv). The mean is taking an …show more content…
The expressive-collaborative approach is one of the feminist ethical decision-making methods (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxviii). According to the expressive-collaborative approach stakeholders in the ethical decision are brought together and discuss their perspective on the moral dilemma (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxviii). In addition to the stakeholders, experts are brought to add to the discussion and a negotiation is made (Boetzkes, Waluchow
Sylvia and Jack’s decision to coerce Olive to donate a kidney to Nancy can be assessed using different ethical theories. Specifically, analysis of Jack and Sylvia’s decision using virtue ethics and feminist theory both indicate that Jack and Sylvia didn’t take the correct course of action, suggesting that there may be other ethical considerations that play a role in decision making.
To determine whether Jack and Sylvia made the right decision, we must first understand virtue ethics and the feminist theory. Aristotle’s ethical thinking concerns how an individual can become a good person and develops good moral habits (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxii). When using Aristotle’s method of ethical decision making, the virtue is a key concept to consider (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxiii). Virtue is an acquired character trait that defines humans as a good person (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxiii). The Aristotelian mean also needs to be considered when facing a moral dilemma (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxiv). At the ends of the spectrum are the vice of deficiency and the vice of excess (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxiv).The vice of deficiency is “doing too little” while the vice of excess is “doing too much”. Between the vice of deficiency and vice of excess, is the mean, where the virtue lies (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxiv). The mean is taking an …show more content…
The expressive-collaborative approach is one of the feminist ethical decision-making methods (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxviii). According to the expressive-collaborative approach stakeholders in the ethical decision are brought together and discuss their perspective on the moral dilemma (Boetzkes, Waluchow xxxviii). In addition to the stakeholders, experts are brought to add to the discussion and a negotiation is made (Boetzkes, Waluchow