Document Detail


What makes a problem an ethical problem? An empirical perspective on the nature of ethical problems in general practice.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  11314166     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Whilst there has been considerable debate about the fit between moral theory and moral reasoning in everyday life, the way in which moral problems are defined has rarely been questioned. This paper presents a qualitative analysis of interviews conducted with 15 general practitioners (GPs) in South Australia to argue that the way in which the bioethics literature defines an ethical dilemma captures only some of the range of lay views about the nature of ethical problems. The bioethics literature has defined ethical dilemmas in terms of conflict and choice between values, beliefs and options for action. While some of the views of some of the GPs in this study about the nature of their ethical dilemmas certainly accorded with this definition, other explanations of the ethical nature of their problems revolved around the publicity associated with the issues they were discussing, concern about their relationships with patients, and anxiety about threats to their integrity and reputation. The variety of views about what makes a problem a moral problem indicates that the moral domain is perhaps wider and richer than mainstream bioethics would generally allow.
Authors:
A J Braunack-Mayer
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of medical ethics     Volume:  27     ISSN:  0306-6800     ISO Abbreviation:  J Med Ethics     Publication Date:  2001 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2001-04-20     Completed Date:  2001-08-23     Revised Date:  2009-11-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7513619     Medline TA:  J Med Ethics     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  98-103     Citation Subset:  E; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Australia.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Attitude of Health Personnel*
Bioethical Issues*
Ethics, Clinical*
Ethics, Medical*
Family Practice / standards*
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Physicians, Family / ethics*
South Australia
Comments/Corrections

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