Healthy Skepticism Library item: 7441

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

O'Toole B.
Four ways we approach ethics.
J Dent Educ 2006 Nov; 70:(11):1152-8
http://www.jdentaled.org/cgi/content/full/70/11/1152

Abstract:

Most people use four different approaches when making ethical decisions. Some people use one approach predominantly, while others vary their approaches according to the circumstances. In either case, the approaches usually are chosen unconsciously. A main source of conflict in decision making occurs when two parties argue or negotiate their positions from different moral approaches, for these different moral approaches are not convincing to one another. People may be persuaded to change their minds only when a stronger position is raised within their own moral approach. The different moral approaches are the principle, consequences, virtue/character, and moral sentiment approaches. Conflicts in decision making can become easier to resolve when decision makers first recognize they are using different moral approaches and then choose to negotiate within the same moral approach.

Keywords:
principles, consequences, virtue/character, moral sentiment MeSH Terms: Culture Decision Making Dental Care/ethics* Ethical Theory* Ethics, Dental* Health Services Accessibility/ethics* Health Services Needs and Demand Humans Moral Obligations Negotiating Principle-Based Ethics Social Values United States