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phi_208_week_3_assignment.docxRUNNING HEAD: Ethical Theory 1
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Ethical Theory
Applying an Ethical Theory
Robin A. Lee
PHI 208-Ethics and Moral Reasoning
Professor: Craig Thompson
August 8, 2016
End of Life Medical Issues
End of life medical issues is one of the complex debates when speaking on legal and moral justification acts. Basically, the debate focuses on moral and legal obligation that a doctor encounters and also the difference between killing the patient who is permanently ill or just letting the patient die. End of life medical issues is in most cases practiced by doctors (Doka at el, 2005). For example, Physician-assisted suicide is a situation a doctor intentionally helps an individual to commit suicide by giving them lethal doses of drugs. Other ways by which a doctor can perform end of life includes Voluntary active euthanasia, Non-voluntary active euthanasia among others. The two moral theories that have been associated with such act are the deontology and utilitarianism. The deontological ethical theory is the regularizing moral position that assesses the morality of an action based on the actions adherence to the rule. On the other hand, utilitarianism is a theory in normative ethics holding the best moral actions which maximize the utility. For the purpose of the paper, we are not going to compare the two ethical theories but simply focus on the weakness and strength of Deontological ethical theory based on the topic end of life medical issues. Based on the fact that Deontology theory limits the doctor to the law of the environment, it’s the position of the researcher to apply deontology approach to the end of life medical issues despite it not satisfying each preference.
Theory Explanation
The deontological ethical theory is an ethics theory that focuses on the relationship between the duty and the morality of human acts. Deontology is derived from the Greek, and it is divided into two words, Deon means "duty" and logos means "science.” According to deontology theory, actions are considered to be morally good based on its characteristics. The theory holds that at least some actions are morally obligated regardless to their results for human welfare. In religion perspectives, deontology has the principles of divine commandments in a way that under the religion laws, we are morally obligated not to perform or do some things such as stealing, lying or killing. But based on the theory, human reasons are emphasized more than laws.
Deontological ethics consist of two essential features which define it .First; actions should be done for actions' sake. This calls the hypothetical imperative explained by Kant. If one has to get fit, he/she must involve in exercise, but if one is not willing to get fit, there are no moral reasons for one to exercise. The obligation carried can either be right or wrong but the results should be treated separately or at least in part, the issue of fundamental moral characteristics of that action or rule. This does not mean that the results of actions are not relevant in assessing the actions, but the results should not affect the actions to be done.
Secondly, a human being should be considered as objects of intrinsic moral value; in this case, humans are as a result in themselves with intrinsic value. Kant emphases on categorical imperative as a rule or command which has to be done such as moral duties like one must not lie. This command should be applicable to every individual since Kant believe that everyone could use reasons to come to an end. Also, self-interest is included in this command; Kant claims that for one to take an action they should be willing to accept the action as the universal law of nature. Based on the above example, if one is willing to lie, he must accept the same to be done to him, by everyone. Logically, since as a creature with some reasons, we can see that the flaw is universal and in this case, everyone will agree not to lie.
Theory application
The deontological theory has a many application to every obligation carried in the line of duty. Based on the topic end of life medical issues, the deontological theory applies in several scenarios. These are as follows;
Suppose the doctor is required to carry human operation, some of the requirements are that the patient must be willing to sign the agreement. Laws do not limit the action to be done by the doctor after the agreement. Also, it is due to the patient illness that calls for the operation but not the doctor’s willingness. Therefore, suppose the patient dies, the doctor’s actions cannot be regarded as morally unethical since he ought to perform the act. In this case, the feature of deontology applies in a way that actions should be done for actions sake but the results should not be considered on not doing the action. The doctor might have known that the operation could result to death, but that could not restrict him from performing the operation. Therefore, an action has to be done regardless to the outcomes. The first formulation of categorical imperative as explained by Kant, was that one should not impose on other’s, something that they do not want to be done to them, he called the universal law. The doctor’s act was an imperfect duty which can still be based on pure reasons but the doctor should allow the explanation on how he performed the act. If the patient could have been alive, the doctor’s actions could have been regarded as perfect duty (Kant, Immanuel. 1785).
Another scenario based on the topic end of life issues is the action of the doctor Voluntary active euthanasia; in this case, the doctor intentionally administers medication that will cause the death of the patient based on the patient’s request and full consent. In some other theories such as utilitarian which are based on the consequence, the doctor cannot be able to perform this action because the result cannot be used to determine the best action. According to hypothetical imperative, as explained to Kant which is the demand for a reason that is conditional, it helps the doctor to act so as to achieve some objectives. The patient might have been suffering from a disease that can be spread and kill other individuals. Suppose the patient tells the doctor to voluntary kill him/her since if that is not done, other people will be killed too. Deontology theory will now apply from the fact that the doctor will apply every rational action since the demand of a patient to be killed is conditional i.e. if he is not killed he will affect the entire society. First, the patient must be willing to die and also he/she must be conscious. The second formulation of imperative by Kant states that every rational action must be considered not only a principle but also the end especially if they are in line with the hypothetical imperative. Therefore, the patients' demand were in line with the hypothetical imperative, and this calls for the doctor’s action which was rational on conditions (Kant, Immanuel. 1785).
Objections
The objections are meant to demonstrate the weakness of deontology theory based on the above scenarios. The first application was about the act of a doctor operating on a patient which results to a patient’s death. The deontology theory tells the doctor that duties should be done for duty’s sake and also the theory advocate for the imperfect duty which Kant claims that they are never truly completed. The objection in this case, suppose this was a minor operation that results to imperfect duty for a doctor to kill the patient, Kant’s theory could not be considered as ethical since the doctor might have conducted imperfect duty intentionally. Suppose the operation was major that ought to be done and the doctor knew the patient will definitely die, deontology theory will tell the doctor to perform the duty and ignore the result, this is not a good idea to ignore the result since the doctor could have saved the lives of other people if he knew the patient will definitely die whether the operation is conducted or not.
The other scenario is the Voluntary active euthanasia where the doctor intentionally kills the patients because the patient has demanded the act. Deontology theory will tell the doctor to obey hypothetical imperative which is a demand of reason that is conditional. In this case, the patient knew that he/she was not going to live any longer and he does not want to spread diseases to others and demanded a Voluntary active euthanasia. Here, Kant’s theory contrasts the doctor’s duties of not to kill. Instead, the doctor should have found the way to isolate the ill patient from others. Also, the outcome of not killing the patient is that he/she will affect others health or even kill others, suppose this was nothing else but to ignore the outcome as advocated by Kant’s theory, the situation could have been worse. Other people could have suffered due to a condition that could have been prevented at first.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kant’s theory of deontology applies to some extent but not all scenarios. The fact that some duties are not conditional’s but ought to be done makes the theory weak. However, the idea of Kant is appropriate to control some actions from being done; the law of universal gives an upper hand of individual feel for others. This is because the law advocate for one to do to others what they want to be done to them. This implies that if one does a wrong or right thing, they should expect the same to be done to them. The end of life medical issues pushes doctors to perform their duties though some of them might not be ethical according to other theories. Doctors have to carry every aspect of their duties with concerns and humanity since every individual has a right to life (Doka at el, 2005).
Reference
Doka, K. J., Jennings, B., & Corr, C. A. (2005). Ethical dilemmas at the end of life. Washington, D.C.: Hospice Foundation of America.
