Transcript HU245 Ethics Unit Five Seminar Ethics of Universal Healthcare

HU245 Ethics
Unit Three Seminar
Ethics of Universal Healthcare
John Balicki
More on the Consequentalists
• Reflection after Unit 1 Assignments
• Ethics of Care – gives without counting
the cost
• Utilitarians – give and count the cost
– They give because they have calculated and
their giving will result in the greatest good for
most people but it is not unreserved giving
Consequentalists vs. Non-consequentalists
• Reflection after Unit 2 Discussion
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– Class is well divided between both
Consequentalists could find no moral absolutes
• Does that make going through every traffic
signal up for grabs?
Non-consequentalists had many moral principles
– Is it applicable to everyone in most situations?
Why More Theories?
• Problems with Consequentialist Theories:
– Hard to Predict the Future
– Difficulty in Respecting the “Few” in
Utilitarianism
• Problems with Nonconsequentialist
Theories:
– Hard to Ignore Outcomes
– Can be Rigid and Difficult
Virtue Theory
• Virtue ethics, among the oldest of all
ethical theories, has experienced
considerable resurgence in popularity over
the last several decades. Rather than
focus on consequences, rules, and/or
intuitions, virtue ethics focuses on the
development of human character, the
shaping or molding of a good or "virtuous"
person.
Aristotle on Virtue
• Aristotle is regarded
as the main virtue
ethicist. Virtue ethics
focuses on
"character" and
developing this
character in
accordance with the
virtues.
Main Points of Virtue Ethics
• Ethics aims at some end. For Aristotle,
that end is happiness. To achieve
happiness, for Aristotle, one must live in
accordance with reason, which prescribes
a virtuous life.
• Natural ethical tendencies in human beings.
Following these tendencies with consistency and
proportion will lead to goodness of character
and aid in living the ethical life.
Obtaining Virtue
• Goodness of character must be developed
by practice and habit. Practicing telling the
truth, for example, will make us truthful.
• Virtue is a mean between the extremes of
vice - excess and deficiency.
Determining the Mean

The mean is determined as "relative to us:" too
little courage is cowardice, too much is foolhardy.
Note that "relative to us" does not mean "relative"
in the sense of "relativism." There is, on Aristotle's
view, an objective fact about the universe that
dictates where the mean is for any particular
individual. For example, a very large adult man
would need more calories each day than a very
small adult man would. The range may not be
significant, but it is distinct and "relative to the
individual."
How Much is Too Much?
Characteristic
Too Much
Mean
Too Little
Confidence
Rashness
Courage
Cowardice
Truth about one’s
own self
Boastfulness
Truthfulness
Self-deprecation
Work Ethic
Workaholic
Productive
Lazy
Advantages of Virtue Ethics
• Attempts to create good human beings rather
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than good acts or rules.
Virtue ethics unifies reason and emotion. (Kant
separates reason/emotion).
Emphasizes moderation and situatedness rather
than absolutes or grossly relativistic principles.
Easy to teach children
Already speak of people in this way (hard
working, honest, caring, ect.)
Disadvantages
• Hard to apply to specific ethical issues like
human cloning, genetic engineering, ect.
• Hard to determine the mean, closely tied
to culture.
• How do you determine what is a virtue?
Tends to bring us back to either
consequences or principles.
Access to Healthcare
• Is access to health care resources a basic
right that should be provided and
protected by government?
Socialized or Universal?
• What is the difference between
government assured access and
government delivery of healthcare
services?
Rights and Duties
• Under Kantian ethics, a right of one party
results in corresponding duty of another.
• What are the implications of a right to
access to healthcare?
How to Pay?
• How should universal access to health
care be funded?
• What are the alternatives for funding?
• What ethical guidelines should be used to
determine funding? Utilitarianism,
altruism, ethical egoism?
Access to High Tech
• In the current free enterprise system, is it
appropriate to limit access to the most
expensive and sophisticated medical
technologies to those who can afford to
pay for them?
• Should healthcare be rationed based on
individual finances and insurance
coverage?
Common Arguments For Universal
Healthcare
• Increasing number of uninsured
• Increasing lack of care due to rising prices
• Competitive disadvantage with other nations
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who have UHC
High number of “free riders” who access
healthcare under current system
Access would encourage more preventative care
More freedom to change jobs or start businesses
It is ethically wrong for people to die and suffer
for lack of money or insurance
Common Arguments Against
Universal Healthcare
• Government would have too much control
• Longer waits for those who have
insurance now
• Result in higher taxes
• Lower profits would mean less innovation
in healthcare
• Unfair to make one person pay for
another’s care.
Perspectives to Consider
• What would result in the best for the most
in society?
More Ponderings
• What rights do individuals have?
Even More Ponderings
• Would your position change if your
circumstances were different?
Unit 3 Assignments
• Seminar Options 1 or 2 (5 pts)
• Discussion Board – one thread (50 pts)
• Debate Forum - Ultrasounds before
Abortion? (20 pts)
• Position Paper on Bioethics (50 pts)
• Quiz (5 pts)
New Business
• Web Research Discussion Thread
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Only one thread
Comparison of opposing arguments
Comparison of opposing websites
Note: Many have strong opinions. Be Respectful
• 0 points if cross the Respect line
• Analyze the quality of the argument even if you don’t agree
with it
• You aren’t going to convert anyone or change anyone’s mind
so don’t try to!
More New Business
• Position Paragraph
– Pick one topic from units 2 or 3 (bioethics)
– Connect the topic to your own life experience
– Use course terms, concepts, and/or theories
to support your position
– Read guidelines for project
– Five well-crafted sentences (can use more but
don’t overdo it)
Debate Forum
• Watch “Ultrasound Debate Video”
• Do Poll
• Answer Debate Question whether
ultrasounds should be performed prior to
abortions
Questions?