Compare And Contrast Utilitarianism And Virtue Ethics

Ethics in health care is often split by how a situation and the people involved can differ. There usually are many ways in which one can approach situations in the medical field. People put their lives in the hands of their doctors, nurses, and other professionals. The question of what is the best way to ethically approach the medical field is often questioned by many, both within the field and outside of it. Utilitarianism is one of the ethical theories that is often used today. This theory is based on the impartiality, achieved happiness, and, in Mill’s restatement, morals. Universalization is another theory, in which right and wrong are universally understood; everyone is treated the same. These two theories, along with virtue ethics’ ability to define the roles of the professional, would be the theories that I would apply in the medical due how the theories together are impartial to all patients, but understand what the role of the patient is and the what the role of the professional is, as well as considering the professional’s own humanity. The theory of Kantianism, however, is not effective because it does not strive to get the best result for …show more content…
If a female patient asks for an abortion, Kantism would say that a physician would be right for denying the abortion if their motives are right. Utilitarianism, however, would likely do the abortion if it was deemed as the most good. A physician could not give the abortion under utilitarianism if they do not morally believe that it is right. Kantism allows the doctor to deny the abortion if the motives are right, but not necessarily if they believe it is immoral. The physician may not be doing what is best for the patient, but what they believe is right. Utilitarianism would do what is best for the patient, unless it is deemed by the physician as