Analyzing Ethical Theories, Moral Actions, and Opinion Differences

This MCAST assignment delves into the complexities of ethical issues and decision-making, exploring the differences between moral rules and principles, and examining various ethical theories. It emphasizes the connection between moral ideas and actions, highlighting the subjective nature of ethical issues that lead to differences of opinion. The assignment defines morality, identifying factors such as family background, education, and religion that influence moral values. It also defines ethics, discussing ethical values like autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence. The work argues against the direct correlation between morality and ethics, using examples to illustrate their differences. Finally, it explores whether ethical theories lead to the same conclusions, discussing moral relativism and applying different ethical theories to scenarios like killing one to save four and stem cell research. Desklib provides access to this assignment and many other solved assignments and past papers for students.

ASSESSMENT AND INTERNAL VERIFICATION FRONT SHEET (Individual Criteria)
(Note : This version is to be used for an brief issued to students via Classter)
Unit Number & Title Ethical Issues and Decision Making
Assignment Number, Title /
Type Take Home Assignment 1
Assessment Criteria Maximum Mark
Criteria : K&U 1.2 Be able to explain the difference between moral rules and principles 5
Criteria : K&U 1.1 Explain what you understand by ethics and be able to explain different ethical theories 5
Criteria : A&A 1.3 Demonstrate the connection between moral ideas and moral actions 7
Criteria: S&E 1.4 Demonstrate that you understand why ethical issues solicit differences of opinion 10
Total Mark 27
THA 1
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All four (4) questions need to be answered.
The maximum marks allocated per question can be found at the end of each question.
Question 1 of 4
What is morality? (Define the term morality, and identify any possible factors which affect
morality.)
Morality refers to the basic values in a person that makes them a better human. Morality in nursing field is
defined as different emotional and ethical aspects that reflects moral value towards profession and patient
(Morley, Bradbury-Jones and Ives, 2020). These moral issues are very necessary for this field as it deals with
the health and well-being of humans. Any misconception followed by the medical can lead to risk of life of the
patient. These misconceptions can be small or big, its effects can be both direct and indirect and It can be
committed by higher level of medical practitioners as well. It is really important for every internal stakeholder
in the medical field to work upon their methods and learn work ethics so that the life of human doesn't get
treated with carelessness. There are various methods ethics and morals that has to be followed by nurses,
doctors and other medical staff.
Empathetical
The medical practitioner working in the health industry whether it is private or public should have a sense of
empathy towards their patients and treat them accordingly. They should treat the patients as humans and not
as an operating subject which is paying for the treatment. Empathetical behaviour should be attempted
towards the family and friends of the patient as well, to boost their morale and hope for the best can be
maintained.
Unbiased
Different patients should be treated as equal, and they should be differentiated on any basis and their
treatment shouldn't be performed according to differences in them. Nurses should focus on every patient with
equality and show concern for them without differentiating. This problem is mainly faced in the private sector
as the patients are differentiated with their spending capacity and class.
Focused
Every individual involve in the curing of patients should be focused and concerned towards their respective
roles. If every employee is focused towards heir jobs and do it effectively then the risk of life will decrease and
the patients will be treated with good care. The administration should also consider various human factors
while assigning duties to the respective candidates. Their mental health and other aspects should be
considered so that they can focus on their work. Any disturbance or disruption should be eliminated that can
impact the activities of practitioner and leads to the risk of life.
Concerned
Nurses treating the patients should be concerned towards the individuals and shouldn't treat them carelessly.
Treating patients carelessly can impact their health and it can lead to uncertainties. Every employee in the
hospital should have a ultimate goal of the best treatment of patients and their health issues. While their duty
hours they shouldn't be concerned towards any other aspect instead of which the health of patients should be
prioritized.
Factors that affect morality
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There are various factors that can affect moral values of a person and direct them towards a different
personality. Some possible affecting factors are discussed below:
Family
Family background and culture of the individual have a vital role on their personality a s they are brought up
in that environment, and they spend most of their time in that environment. The moral values of a person is
judged on the basis of their family Background because it is commonly seen that a whole family majorly have
the same set of moral values and minorly differs from member to member.
Education
Educational background of a person influences their point of view to an extent where it starts divulging into
their moral values and human beliefs. The environment in which a person studies effects their behaviour
towards other and it has a lifetime impact on their personality. Effective teaching of moral values can lead to a
good personality development.
Religion
Religious beliefs followed by the person throughout their life impacts their character and value in the society
as many people are highly religious. Deep understanding of the religious teachings can improve the moral
values in the person.
Question 2 of 4
What is ethics?
The basic definition of ethics is stated as the ways of behaviour which differs from situation to situation is
whether right or wrong (Prestia, 2020). Ethics dictates the authenticity and moral code of conduct that has to
be followed by a person in different field or situation.
Ethics is the philosophical aspect developed in through the ages which majorly focus on eliminating wrong
practises and oversees the smooth running of the body. Ethical laws mentions the actions of human activity
that it is acceptable or not.
In medical field ethics of conduct are very essential as it depicts upon the lives of patients because they have
to ultimately face the consequences. Ethical values of the medical practitioner is reflected when they have to
face different dilemmas in which they have to make decision that is influenced by their core values. Some of
the ethics that are majorly contained in the personality of nurses are discussed below:
Autonomy
This ethical value depicts the right of a patient to know the medical process and avail their preferable method.
Nurses are expected to convey every information regarding the health of the individual and allow them to
make their decisions accordingly. The information of every kind should be conveyed such as risks involved in
the process, complications that will be in the way, etc. to the patient and their respective guardian.
Beneficence
Medical practitioner or nurses should have merciful and kind behaviour towards the patients and their family
or relatives. This ethic focuses on the good behaviour of the staff so that the stress on patient and their
concerned relatives should be relieved. A nurse should treat the patients with respect and polite behaviour in
order to be kind to them without getting impacted with their differences.
Justice
This ethic of justice directs the nurses towards fair and unbiased care of patient by focusing just on their
health instead of their financial abilities or any other differences. Every patient in a hospital should be treated
with equality and their heath care should be done respectively. This ethical value gives justice to the patient
which are considered in the lower class in the society.
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Non- Maleficence
This principle defines the safe and secure operating methods that should be followed for the safety of the
patients. Various methods for operating or treatment has to be pursued by the medical practitioner in order
to treat the person with minimizing its negative impacts. Any method or process that will be pursued has to
be first confirmed by the patient so that they become ready for the respective outcomes. Any miss-happening
that can happen during the process should also be discussed with the patient so that they can opt according
to their will.
Question 3 of 4
“If a particular action is moral, then, it is obviously ethical.”
Argue how the above statement is false. Support your answer with possible combinations
and examples.
The above statement is false because it states that morality ultimately leads to ethics which is
absolutely wrong (Kim and Park, 2019). Morality refers to the common human behaviour that
develops within the lives of men. On the other hand ethics can differ from situation to
situation. Ethics refers to the ways and basic rules that has to be followed by every individual in
the area. Although, the ethics and morality can lead to higher authenticity but it can't be said
that they are directly connected to one another.
Difference between ethics and morals:
Ethics are influenced and created from the external factors whereas, morals are the
combination of behaviour in the nature of individual (Deschenes and Kunyk, 2020). Ethics are
based on the societal aspects as the theories are based on what society thinks is right. On the
other hand, morals are different set of quality and feelings of an individual. Morals are based
on an individual thinking on whatever they think is right or wrong. Ethics are always flexible
and can be modified in different situations accordingly. But the morals are generally consistent
and don't vary in different situations. Ethical theories are maintained and regulated by
governmental or administrative bodies within a time or place but the morals are considered as
general cultural norms which is not influenced or maintained by any external body.
Illustration
A doctor working in as hospital got a patient with a rare disease which has no cure. This disease is not deadly
but it will affect the human health and the person will be facing the worst conditions. Several methods and
medicinal treatment was done but the disease in incurable. In such case ethics of the medical practitioner will
not allow the doctor to euthanize the patient as it is illegal. Also, if the patient is happy to die then also the
doctors cant do it because of the ethical codes. However, the doctor may want to relieve the patient from the
disease by euthanizing them as their moral values don't allow them to see someone in such surviving
conditions. This example depicts that the above statement was not true as the morality in the person doesn't
reflect the ethics.
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Question 4 of 4
Do all ethical theories give rise to the same answers or results?
Answer the above question by discussing moral relativism
Formal statements that is a bit related to moral values are formed for gaining more and more
authenticity in the work which can eliminate the wrong ways of doing a thing (Haahr and et.al.,
2020). These theories are used by a person while facing a dilemma in which the right decision
has to be made. Thus, the ethics of conduct influence the decision-making in various field.
Yes, every theory based on the ethics of conduct give rise to the same kinds of results in
different fields (Rainer, Schneider and Lorenz, 2018). Results are comparatively same because every
theory focus on authenticity and right path of doing an activity. The overall motive of these
theories is to maintain moral values in the work done.
Support your argument by discussing how different ethical theories would deal with
resolving the following scenarios:
- Fictional scenario - Killing Bob (whether a doctor would be justified in killing one
healthy adult, in order to save four persons)
A basic ethic that has to be followed by every doctor is working for the betterment of patient without treating
them unequally (Pesut and et.al., 2020). Saving more lives may depict the doctor as a hero but the killing of
one also can't be ignored. The ethic of justice to every patient is not justified in this situation because one
healthy human didn't get fair action. Saving 4 lives can be a heroic thing but killing of one healthy human is
also considered as murder.
- Stem cell research
The stem cell research which focused on the observation of formation of specific stem cells for finding the
cure of different disease was prohibited in some regions (Haddad and Geiger, 2018). This ban was imposed
because its objective was focused on replacement of different cells with the stem cells of the embryo of less
than 5 to 6 days that is developed in IVF centres. This act disrespects several amendments and government
laws which focus on medical specification. Ethical issues are being faced by this research as it breaks the code
of conduct by disrupting in the fertilization process. Although, this technique can be very helpful in cure of
many dangerous disease. This method can exploit the natural process of egg fertilization of this research
should be done with the certain rules and regulations that doest omit the health policies and basic rights. The
researchers can use the embryo which are no longer needed by the IVF patients. Furthermore, the studies and
the process can continue by taking concern from the respective bodies. This method has to come in action
only when efficient research is done on its outcomes in respect with the long and short term repercussions.
REFERENCES
Books and journals
Haddad, L.M. and Geiger, R.A., 2018. Nursing ethical considerations.
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Pesut, B. and et.al., 2020. Nursing and euthanasia: A narrative review of the nursing ethics literature. Nursing
ethics. 27(1). pp.152-167.
Rainer, J., Schneider, J.K. and Lorenz, R.A., 2018. Ethical dilemmas in nursing: An integrative review. Journal of
Clinical Nursing. 27(19-20). pp.3446-3461.
Haahr, A. and et.al., 2020. Nurses experiences of ethical dilemmas: A review. Nursing ethics. 27(1). pp.258-
272.
Deschenes, S. and Kunyk, D., 2020. Situating moral distress within relational ethics. Nursing ethics. 27(3).
pp.767-777.
Kim, W.J. and Park, J.H., 2019. The effects of debate-based ethics education on the moral sensitivity and
judgment of nursing students: A quasi-experimental study. Nurse Education Today. 83. p.104200.
Prestia, A.S., 2020. The Moral Obligation of Nurse Leaders:: COVID-19. Nurse leader. 18(4). pp.326-328.
Morley, G., Bradbury-Jones, C. and Ives, J., 2020. What is ‘moral distress’ in nursing? A feminist empirical
bioethics study. Nursing ethics. 27(5). pp.1297-1314.
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