What Do We Do When We "Do" Clinical Ethics? A Primer. 2023

Jonathan Bolton

AbstractThis article presents a model for doing clinical ethics consultations. It describes four phases of a consultation: investigation, assessment, action, and review. The consultant must identify the problem and determine whether it is a nonmoral problem (e.g., lack of information) or a moral problem involving uncertainty or conflict. The consultant must be able to identify the types of moral arguments that are used by participants to the situation. A simplified taxonomy of moral arguments is presented. The consultant must then assess the arguments for their cogency and identify where they align and where they conflict. The action phase of the consultation involves finding ways for the arguments to be presented and hopefully reconciled. The normative limitations to the role of the consultant are described.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009014 Morals Standards of conduct that distinguish right from wrong. Morality
D000066491 Clinical Decision-Making Process of formulating a diagnosis based on medical history and physical or mental examinations, and/or choosing an appropriate intervention. Medical Decision-Making,Clinical Decision Making,Decision-Making, Clinical,Decision-Making, Medical,Medical Decision Making
D026690 Ethics, Clinical The identification, analysis, and resolution of moral problems that arise in the care of patients. (Bioethics Thesaurus) Clinical Ethics
D026822 Ethicists Persons trained in philosophical or theological ethics who work in clinical, research, public policy, or other settings where they bring their expertise to bear on the analysis of ethical dilemmas in policies or cases. (Bioethics Thesaurus) Bioethicists,Bioethics Consultants,Clinical Ethicist,Clinical Ethicists,Ethicist, Clinical,Ethicists, Clinical,Ethics Consultants,Bioethicist,Bioethics Consultant,Consultants, Bioethics,Consultants, Ethics,Ethicist,Ethics Consultant

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