Introduction to Ethics

Prof. / Ahlam El-Shaer

 Out lines

• Introduction
• Definitions of Ethics
• History of Ethics
• Origin of Ethics
 Introduction
The word ethics is derived from the Greek word

“ethos”, which means custom or guiding beliefs.

Ethics is defined as a set of rules or principles

that govern right conduct and is designed to

protect the rights of a human being.

 Ethics

 Ethics is a branch of philosophy; it is moral

philosophy or philosophical thinking about morality,

moral problems, and moral judgments. Nursing

ethics provides the professional standards for nursing

activities, which protect the nurse and the patient

 Ethics

 Is a system of understanding determinations

and motivations based on an individual’s
perceptions of right and wrong.
 It is not determined by strict rules or rigid
guidelines, and although it is relatively stable,
it can change over time.
 Professional ethics

 Is a set of standards adopted by a professional

community and it encompasses a greater part of a

professional’s life.

 The concept of professional ethics partly deals with

what a professional should or should not do in the

workplace.
 Code of ethics

 Defines the kind of conduct expected of the

members of a profession. It is also used to

guide professional behavior, help nurse plan
instruction, prevent the below-standard
practice, protect a nurse if falsely accused,
and provide direction for legal action.
 Codes of ethics

 Codes of ethics regulate the manner in which

professionals conduct themselves while in the

workplace and include concepts such as
professional respect, avoidance of dishonesty or
fraudulent activity, such as plagiarism. Another
important aspect is the enhancement of the
profession.
 Nursing ethics

 Refers to the professional standards and

behavior that helps a nurse to carry out the

nursing care in a manner that results in
good to the community and mankind.

.
 Value
 It was defined as attitudes, ideas, or beliefs that one

holds & uses to guide behavior. Values are learned

and are greatly influenced by a person ‘s socio-
cultural environment (e.g., demonstrate honesty,
folk healer, observation and experience
Watson (1981) outlined 4 important values of nursing:
• Strong commitment to service
• Belief in the dignity and worth of each person
• Commitment to education
• Autonomy
 Bioethics

 It is the ethics applied to life. (e.g., Abortion,

euthanasia). Bioethics also was defined as the

application of ethical principles to healthcare.
Purpose of it, is to raise questions & then act as a
guideline toward solutions.
 Advocacy
Defined as the active support of an important cause or defenses of a
basic human rights on behalf of those cannot speak for them.
Models of nurse advocacy
Rights protection model
Advocacy is used to describe nurse – patient relationship and defense patients’ rights
Values- decision model
Views the nurse as the person help the patients to discuss their needs,
interests, and consistent with patients’ values and life style.
Respect for –person's model

Views the patient as a follow human- being entitled respect. The nurse
consider basic human values and act to protect patients human dignity,
privacy, and choices.
 Accountability and Responsibilities
The concept accountability has two major attributes answerability and
responsibility.
Accountability can be defined as being answerable for ones actions
and entails giving satisfactory reasons and explanation for ones
actions or carried out responsibilities.
Responsibilities
Obligation to carry out duties associated with a particular role
assumed by individual.
Cooperation
Is the concept that active participation with other to obtain quality
care for patients. Cooperation fosters networks of mutual support and
close working relationship.
Caring
The ethical concept of caring is valued in the nurse- patient
relationship and caring behaviors are often consider fundamental to
nursing role. Caring as moral obligation or duty among health
professionals.

Rights
A just claim or title that which is due to someone. Legal rights
recognized by legal system. Moral rights are derived from custom,
traditions or ideals which may be upheld or protected by law.
Dilemma
A difficult situation that seems to have no satisfactory solution.

Ethical dilemma
It is a complex situation that often involves an apparent mental
conflict between moral claims, in which to obey one would result in
transgressing another.

OR
Situations that necessitating a choice between two equal (usually
undesirable) alternatives
Morals is similar to ethics and many people use the two wards
interchangeably (closely associated with the concept of ethics). It is
based on religious beliefs and social influence and group norms.

Belief

Refers to interpretation or opinion that we accept as true. It is based

on faith not on fact and is judged as correct or incorrect.

Attitude

Feeling or emotion including positive or negative judgment toward a

person, object, or idea.
 A professional has more moral responsibilities

than those held by the population in general. This

is because professionals are capable of making
judgments and acting on informed decisions in
situations that the general public cannot because
they have not received the relevant training.
 Example

 a layman could not be held responsible for failing to

act to save a car crash victim because he/she does
not have the relevant knowledge. In contrast, a fully
trained nurse (with the correct equipment) would be
capable of making the correct nursing diagnosis and
carrying out the procedure and it is wrong if he/she
failed to help in this situation.
 In the workplace, managers and supervisors should

set the standard for ethics by showing respect,

being honest, and promoting trust. If the

management team uses unethical forms of

communication, the team and business can fail.

THANK YOU!

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