An introduction to ethical theory for healthcare assistants

Journal article

Rodger, D and Blackshaw, B (2017). An introduction to ethical theory for healthcare assistants. British Journal of Healthcare Assistants. 11 (11), pp. 556-561. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjha.2017.11.11.556
AuthorsRodger, D and Blackshaw, B
Abstract

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in British Journal of Healthcare Assistants , copyright © MA Healthcare, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.12968/bjha.2017.11.11.556

This article will explore and summarise the four main ethical theories that have relevance for healthcare assistants. These are: utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics and principlism. Understanding different ethical theories can have a number of significant benefits, which have the potential to shape and inform the care of patients, challenge bad practice and lead staff to become better informed about areas of moral disagreement.

KeywordsNursing Ethics; Ethical Theory; Bioethics; Deontology; Virtue Ethics; Principlism; Utilitarianism
Year2017
JournalBritish Journal of Healthcare Assistants
Journal citation11 (11), pp. 556-561
PublisherMark Allen Group
ISSN1753-1586
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.12968/bjha.2017.11.11.556
Publication dates
Print09 Nov 2017
Publication process dates
Deposited20 Nov 2017
Accepted18 Sep 2017
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Permalink -

https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/86wz7

Download files

Accepted author manuscript
Ethical theory for Healthcare Assistants (PDF).pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 2999
    total views
  • 955
    total downloads
  • 11
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

What is a scoping review?
Rodger, D., Admani, A. and Thomas, M. What is a scoping review? Evidence-Based Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1136/ebnurs-2024-103969
Exploring attitudes toward xenotransplantation: A scoping review of healthcare workers, healthcare students, and kidney patients.
Rodger, D. and Smith, J. (2024). Exploring attitudes toward xenotransplantation: A scoping review of healthcare workers, healthcare students, and kidney patients. Xenotransplantation. 31 (3), p. e12860. https://doi.org/10.1111/xen.12860
Xenotransplantation Clinical Trials: Should Patients with Diminished Capacity be Permitted to Enroll?
Rodger, D., Mack, J., Bobier, C., Padilla, L. and Hurst, D. (2024). Xenotransplantation Clinical Trials: Should Patients with Diminished Capacity be Permitted to Enroll? Xenotransplantation. 31 (2), p. e12857. https://doi.org/10.1111/xen.12857
Infection Prevention and the Protective Effects of Unidirectional Displacement Flow Ventilation in the Turbulent Spaces of the Operating Room
Ziegler, M, Seipp, H-M, Steffens, T, Walter, D, Buttner-Janz, K, Rodger, D. and Herzog-Niescery, J (2024). Infection Prevention and the Protective Effects of Unidirectional Displacement Flow Ventilation in the Turbulent Spaces of the Operating Room. Health Environments Research & Design Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/193758672412286
Genetic Disenhancement and Xenotransplantation: Diminishing Pigs’ Capacity to Experience Suffering through Genetic Engineering
Rodger, D., Hurst, D., Bobier, C. and Symons, X. (2024). Genetic Disenhancement and Xenotransplantation: Diminishing Pigs’ Capacity to Experience Suffering through Genetic Engineering. Journal of Medical Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2023-109594
Close contacts of xenograft recipients: Ethical considerations due to risk of xenozoonosis
Hurst, D.J., Padilla, L., Rodger, D., Schiff, T. and Cooper, D.K.C. (2024). Close contacts of xenograft recipients: Ethical considerations due to risk of xenozoonosis. Xenotransplantation. 31 (2), p. e12847. https://doi.org/10.1111/xen.12847
Pediatric Cardiac Xenotransplantation: Recommendations for the Ethical Design of Clinical Trials
Hurst, DJ, Padilla, L, Merlocco, A, Rodger, D., Bobier, C., Gray, WH, Sorabella, R, Cooper, DKC and Pierson, RN. (2024). Pediatric Cardiac Xenotransplantation: Recommendations for the Ethical Design of Clinical Trials. Transplantation. https://doi.org/10.1097/TP.0000000000004968
Zooming in on Justice: The Case for Virtual Bioethics Conferencing.
Blackshaw, B., Rodger, D. and Hurst, D. (2024). Zooming in on Justice: The Case for Virtual Bioethics Conferencing. The American Journal of Bioethics. 24 (4), pp. 60-62. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2024.2308143
Xenograft recipients and the right to withdraw from a clinical trial
Bobier, C., Rodger, D., Hurst, D. and Omelianchuk, A. (2024). Xenograft recipients and the right to withdraw from a clinical trial. Bioethics. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.13262
Xenotransplantation and Lifelong Monitoring
Bobier, C., Rodger, D. and Hurst, D. (2023). Xenotransplantation and Lifelong Monitoring. American Journal of Transplantation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajt.2023.11.010
Xenotransplantation Clinical Trials and Equitable Patient Selection.
Bobier, C. and Rodger, D. (2023). Xenotransplantation Clinical Trials and Equitable Patient Selection. Cambridge quarterly of healthcare ethics : CQ : the international journal of healthcare ethics committees. https://doi.org/10.1017/S096318012300052X
A fair exchange: why living kidney donors in England should be financially compensated
Rodger, D. and Venter, B. (2023). A fair exchange: why living kidney donors in England should be financially compensated. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-023-10171-x
Generative AI entails a credit-blame asymmetry
Porsdam Mann, S., Earp, B.D., Nyholm, S., Danaher, J., Møller, N., Bowman-Smart, H., Hatherley, J., Koplin, J., Plozza, M., Rodger, D., Treit, P.V., Renard, G., McMillan, J. and Savulescu, J. (2023). Generative AI entails a credit-blame asymmetry. Nature Machine Intelligence. 5, pp. 472-475. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42256-023-00653-1
Xenotransplantation: A historical ethical account of viewpoints
Rodger, D., Hurst, D. and Cooper, DKC. (2023). Xenotransplantation: A historical ethical account of viewpoints. Xenotransplantation. p. e12797. https://doi.org/10.1111/xen.12797
In defense of xenotransplantation research: Because of, not in spite of, animal welfare concerns
Bobier, C., Rodger, D., Hurst, D.J. and Omelianchuk, A. (2022). In defense of xenotransplantation research: Because of, not in spite of, animal welfare concerns. Xenotransplantation. 30 (1), p. 12791. https://doi.org/10.1111/xen.12791
Kidney xenotransplantation: future clinical reality or science fiction?
Rodger, D. and Cooper, D.K.C. (2022). Kidney xenotransplantation: future clinical reality or science fiction? Nursing and Health Sciences. 21 (1), pp. 161-170. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12994
Mathieu Jaboulay's (1860–1913) contribution to xenotransplantation
Rodger, D. and Hurst, D.J. (2022). Mathieu Jaboulay's (1860–1913) contribution to xenotransplantation. Xenotransplantation. p. e12765. https://doi.org/10.1111/xen.12765
The Problem with 'Suction Only' Methods to Reduce Surgical Smoke Exposure.
Rodger, D. (2022). The Problem with 'Suction Only' Methods to Reduce Surgical Smoke Exposure. Aesthetic plastic surgery. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-022-02917-4
COVID-19 Vaccination Should not be Mandatory for Health and Social Care Workers.
Rodger, D. and Blackshaw, B. (2022). COVID-19 Vaccination Should not be Mandatory for Health and Social Care Workers. The New Bioethics. https://doi.org/10.1080/20502877.2022.2025651
Why we should stop using animal-derived products on patients without their consent.
Rodger, D. (2021). Why we should stop using animal-derived products on patients without their consent. Journal of Medical Ethics. https://doi.org/medethics-2021-107371
If fetuses are persons, abortion is a public health crisis
Blackshaw, B. and Rodger, D. (2021). If fetuses are persons, abortion is a public health crisis. Bioethics. 35 (5), pp. 465-472. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12874
The case for compulsory surgical smoke evacuation systems in the operating theatre
Rodger, D. (2021). The case for compulsory surgical smoke evacuation systems in the operating theatre. Clinical Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1177/14777509211063589
Why we should not extend the 14-day rule
Blackshaw, B.P. and Rodger, D. (2021). Why we should not extend the 14-day rule. Journal of Medical Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2021-107317
Quotas: Enabling Conscientious Objection to Coexist with Abortion Access.
Rodger, D. and Blackshaw, Bruce P (2020). Quotas: Enabling Conscientious Objection to Coexist with Abortion Access. Health care analysis : HCA : journal of health philosophy and policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-020-00419-5
Why Ectogestation Is Unlikely to Transform the Abortion Debate: a Discussion of ‘Ectogestation and the Problem of Abortion’
Rodger, D. (2020). Why Ectogestation Is Unlikely to Transform the Abortion Debate: a Discussion of ‘Ectogestation and the Problem of Abortion’. Philosophy & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-020-00436-1
Gestaticide: killing the subject of the artificial womb.
Rodger, D., Colgrove, N. and Blackshaw, B. (2020). Gestaticide: killing the subject of the artificial womb. Journal of Medical Ethics. https://doi.org/medethics-2020-106708
Parental Responsibilities and Moral Status
Blackshaw, BP and Rodger, Daniel (2020). Parental Responsibilities and Moral Status. Journal of Medical Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2020-106173
Defining life from death: Problems with the somatic integration definition of life
Blackshaw, B. and Rodger, D. (2020). Defining life from death: Problems with the somatic integration definition of life. Bioethics. 34 (5), pp. 549-554. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12718
Why a right to life rules out infanticide: A final reply to Räsänen
Blackshaw, B. and Rodger, D. (2019). Why a right to life rules out infanticide: A final reply to Räsänen. Bioethics. 33 (8), pp. 965-967. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12646
Students’ perceptions of debating as a learning strategy: A qualitative study
Rodger, D. and Stewart-Lord, A. (2019). Students’ perceptions of debating as a learning strategy: A qualitative study. Nurse Education in Practice. 42, p. 102681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2019.102681
Impact of stigma on the care of postpartum women with severe mental illness
Rodger, D (2019). Impact of stigma on the care of postpartum women with severe mental illness. Evidence-Based Nursing. 22 (3), p. 81. https://doi.org/10.1136/ebnurs-2018-102905
Meeting the Epicurean Challenge: A Reply to Christensen
Blackshaw, B and Rodger, D (2019). Meeting the Epicurean Challenge: A Reply to Christensen. Journal of Medical Ethics. 45, pp. 478-479. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2018-105267
Using animal-derived constituents in anaesthesia and surgery: the case for disclosing to patients
Rodger, D and Blackshaw, B (2019). Using animal-derived constituents in anaesthesia and surgery: the case for disclosing to patients. BMC Medical Ethics. 20 (14). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-019-0351-4
Surgical fires: still a burning issue in England and Wales
Rodger, D (2019). Surgical fires: still a burning issue in England and Wales. Journal of Perioperative Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/1750458919861906
Why arguments against infanticide remain convincing - a reply to Joona Räsänen
Rodger, D, Blackshaw, B.P. and Wilcox, C. (2018). Why arguments against infanticide remain convincing - a reply to Joona Räsänen. Bioethics. 32 (3), pp. 215-219. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12423
Beyond infanticide: How psychological accounts of persons justify harming infants
Rodger, D, Blackshaw, B and Miller, C (2018). Beyond infanticide: How psychological accounts of persons justify harming infants. The New Bioethics. https://doi.org/10.1080/20502877.2018.1438771
Book Review: Down's Syndrome Screening and Reproductive Politics: Care, choice, and disability in the prenatal clinic.
Rodger, D (2018). Book Review: Down's Syndrome Screening and Reproductive Politics: Care, choice, and disability in the prenatal clinic. The New Bioethics. 24 (1), pp. 95-97. https://doi.org/10.1080/20502877.2018.1440723
Extravasation injury leading to acute compartment syndrome in a child: the vital role of pulse oximetry in early detection and management
Rodger, D (2018). Extravasation injury leading to acute compartment syndrome in a child: the vital role of pulse oximetry in early detection and management. Journal of Perioperative Practice. 28 (4), pp. 95-98. https://doi.org/10.1177/1750458918762324
How to mitigate the effects of peri-operative death on nursing staff
Rodger, D and Atwal, A (2018). How to mitigate the effects of peri-operative death on nursing staff. Nursing Times. 114 (8), pp. 26-29.
Moral distress in healthcare assistants: A discussion with recommendations
Rodger, D., Blackshaw, B. and Young, A. (2018). Moral distress in healthcare assistants: A discussion with recommendations. Nursing Ethics. 26 (7-8), pp. 2306-2313. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733018791339
Ectogenesis and the case against the right to the death of the foetus
Blackshaw, BP and Rodger, D (2018). Ectogenesis and the case against the right to the death of the foetus. Bioethics. 33 (1), pp. 76-81. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12529
The aftermath of a perioperative death: who cares for the clinician?
Rodger, D and Hartley, H (2018). The aftermath of a perioperative death: who cares for the clinician? Evidence-Based Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1136/ebnurs-2018-103018
From healthcare assistant to student operating department practitioner—are you ready for the ODP challenge?
Rodger, D and Mahoney, C (2017). From healthcare assistant to student operating department practitioner—are you ready for the ODP challenge? British Journal of Healthcare Assistants. 11 (5), pp. 248-251. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjha.2017.11.5.248