To evaluate the professional conduct in a hypothetical case study using two meta-ethical theories, we will consider the theories of Moral Realism and Ethical Subjectivism.
Case Study Overview
For the sake of this analysis, let's assume the case study involves a healthcare professional who, while faced with a critical decision, chose to prioritize their personal beliefs over the well-being of the patient, ultimately impacting the care provided.
Theory 1: Moral Realism
Moral Realism posits that there are objective moral facts and truths that exist independently of human beliefs or feelings. According to this theory, certain actions can be evaluated as inherently right or wrong based on these objective standards.
Application of Moral Realism:
From the perspective of Moral Realism, the healthcare professional's decision can be viewed against the backdrop of established ethical principles in the medical field, such as beneficence (acting in the best interest of the patient), non-maleficence (not causing harm), and patient autonomy.
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Beneficence and Non-maleficence: The professional's choice to prioritize personal beliefs over patient care likely conflicts with the obligation to act in the patient's best interest, which is a clear violation of the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence.
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Assessment of Actions: An objective assessment would likely conclude that the professional's conduct was unethical, as it directly contradicts the universally acknowledged moral duties in healthcare. In this framework, the objective moral truths dictate that caring for the patient should take precedence, meaning the conduct was ethically unjustifiable.
Theory 2: Ethical Subjectivism
Ethical Subjectivism suggests that moral judgments are based on individual or cultural perspectives, asserting that what is considered moral or ethical varies from person to person and is influenced by personal feelings and experiences.
Application of Ethical Subjectivism:
Applying Ethical Subjectivism to the healthcare professional's actions would involve examining their personal beliefs and values that informed their decision-making process.
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Individual Basis of Morality: Given that Ethical Subjectivism allows for varying moral viewpoints, it could be argued that the professional's conduct might be seen as ethical within their personal moral framework. If the professional believed that their actions were justifiable based on their values, they may perceive their conduct as ethical.
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Cultural Context: However, this raises concerns about the implications of such a belief system in a professional context. While the professional’s personal beliefs are valid within the realm of Ethical Subjectivism, it would still be problematic if those beliefs negatively impacted patient care. An ethical evaluation under this framework may suggest that while the conduct aligns with one individual’s beliefs, it may be deemed unethical when considering the broader societal expectation of medical professionals to prioritize patient welfare.
Conclusion
In summary, when evaluating the healthcare professional's conduct through the lenses of Moral Realism and Ethical Subjectivism:
- Moral Realism indicates that the conduct was unethical as it violated objective ethical principles central to patient care.
- Ethical Subjectivism allows for personal interpretation, suggesting that while the professional may view their actions as ethical based on their beliefs, it highlights a significant conflict when those beliefs lead to the detriment of patient welfare.
Thus, while the conduct may hold a semblance of ethical justification in a subjective sense, it ultimately fails the ethical standards established in the professional healthcare context.