Objectives

1. Explain how the terms ethics and morality refer to a family of related concepts.

2. Identify a variety of common sources of moral guidance and authority.

3. Describe several approaches to ethics and explain the value of ethical discourse (asystematic approach to ethics).

4. Use an ethical theory and its associated methods to help identify, clarify, andanalyze clinical ethics issues.

Case

Janet S. is a 65-year-old stage 4 breast cancer patient whose third round of chemotherapy hasfailed. She knows her status well, as she suffers from significant pain from bone metastases. Inthoughtful conversationwith you, her oncologist, she asks for your help in hastening her death.She states clearly to you that she finds her life insufferable and that dying quickly while she stillhas some “dignity” is of utmost importance to her. She has made peace with her friends andfamily and states that she is ready to die.

Introduction: The meaning of “ethics”

“Ethics” is a term that lends itself to multiple meanings. Beginning with an understanding ofboth definitional and conceptual diferences among these meanings provides a starting placeto difuse tensions caused by such diferences and may help to clarify the purpose of HECsin an organization.