HU245 Ethics Unit Three Seminar Ethics of Universal Healthcare

1. HU245 EthicsUnit Three SeminarEthics of Universal Healthcare John Balicki

2. More on the Consequentalists • Reflection after Unit 1 Assignments • Ethics of Care – gives without counting the cost • Utilitarians – give and count the cost • They give because they have calculated and their giving will result in the greatest good for most people but it is not unreserved giving

3. Consequentalists vs. Non-consequentalists • Reflection after Unit 2 Discussion • Class is well divided between both • Consequentalists could find no moral absolutes • Does that make going through every traffic signal up for grabs? • Non-consequentalists had many moral principles • Is it applicable to everyone in most situations?

4. Why More Theories? • Problems with Consequentialist Theories: • Hard to Predict the Future • Difficulty in Respecting the “Few” in Utilitarianism • Problems with Nonconsequentialist Theories: • Hard to Ignore Outcomes • Can be Rigid and Difficult

5. Virtue Theory • Virtue ethics, among the oldest of all ethical theories, has experienced considerable resurgence in popularity over the last several decades. Rather than focus on consequences, rules, and/or intuitions, virtue ethics focuses on the development of human character, the shaping or molding of a good or "virtuous" person.

6. Aristotle on Virtue • Aristotle is regarded as the main virtue ethicist. Virtue ethics focuses on "character" and developing this character in accordance with the virtues.

7. Main Points of Virtue Ethics • Ethics aims at some end. For Aristotle, that end is happiness. To achieve happiness, for Aristotle, one must live in accordance with reason, which prescribes a virtuous life. • Natural ethical tendencies in human beings. Following these tendencies with consistency and proportion will lead to goodness of character and aid in living the ethical life.

8. Obtaining Virtue • Goodness of character must be developed by practice and habit. Practicing telling the truth, for example, will make us truthful. • Virtue is a mean between the extremes of vice - excess and deficiency.

9. Determining the Mean • The mean is determined as "relative to us:" too little courage is cowardice, too much is foolhardy. Note that "relative to us" does not mean "relative" in the sense of "relativism." There is, on Aristotle's view, an objective fact about the universe that dictates where the mean is for any particular individual. For example, a very large adult man would need more calories each day than a very small adult man would. The range may not be significant, but it is distinct and "relative to the individual."

10. How Much is Too Much?

11. Advantages of Virtue Ethics • Attempts to create good human beings rather than good acts or rules. • Virtue ethics unifies reason and emotion. (Kant separates reason/emotion). • Emphasizes moderation and situatedness rather than absolutes or grossly relativistic principles. • Easy to teach children • Already speak of people in this way (hard working, honest, caring, ect.)

12. Disadvantages • Hard to apply to specific ethical issues like human cloning, genetic engineering, ect. • Hard to determine the mean, closely tied to culture. • How do you determine what is a virtue? Tends to bring us back to either consequences or principles.

13. Access to Healthcare • Is access to health care resources a basic right that should be provided and protected by government? 

14. Socialized or Universal? • What is the difference between government assured access and government delivery of healthcare services?

15. Rights and Duties • Under Kantian ethics, a right of one party results in corresponding duty of another. • What are the implications of a right to access to healthcare?

16. How to Pay? • How should universal access to health care be funded? • What are the alternatives for funding? • What ethical guidelines should be used to determine funding? Utilitarianism, altruism, ethical egoism?

17. Access to High Tech • In the current free enterprise system, is it appropriate to limit access to the most expensive and sophisticated medical technologies to those who can afford to pay for them?

18. Should healthcare be rationed based on individual finances and insurance coverage?

19. Common Arguments For Universal Healthcare • Increasing number of uninsured • Increasing lack of care due to rising prices • Competitive disadvantage with other nations who have UHC • High number of “free riders” who access healthcare under current system • Access would encourage more preventative care • More freedom to change jobs or start businesses • It is ethically wrong for people to die and suffer for lack of money or insurance

20. Common Arguments Against Universal Healthcare • Government would have too much control • Longer waits for those who have insurance now • Result in higher taxes • Lower profits would mean less innovation in healthcare • Unfair to make one person pay for another’s care.

21. Perspectives to Consider • What would result in the best for the most in society?

22. More Ponderings • What rights do individuals have?

23. Even More Ponderings • Would your position change if your circumstances were different?

24. Unit 3 Assignments • Seminar Options 1 or 2 (5 pts) • Discussion Board – one thread (50 pts) • Debate Forum - Ultrasounds before Abortion? (20 pts) • Position Paper on Bioethics (50 pts) • Quiz (5 pts)

25. New Business • Web Research Discussion Thread • Only one thread • Comparison of opposing arguments • Comparison of opposing websites • Note: Many have strong opinions. Be Respectful • 0 points if cross the Respect line • Analyze the quality of the argument even if you don’t agree with it • You aren’t going to convert anyone or change anyone’s mind so don’t try to!

26. More New Business • Position Paragraph • Pick one topic from units 2 or 3 (bioethics) • Connect the topic to your own life experience • Use course terms, concepts, and/or theories to support your position • Read guidelines for project • Five well-crafted sentences (can use more but don’t overdo it)

27. Debate Forum • Watch “Ultrasound Debate Video” • Do Poll • Answer Debate Question whether ultrasounds should be performed prior to abortions

28. Questions?