2. HIPPOCRATIC OATH IN MEDICINE
“I will follow that
system of regimen
which, according to
my ability and
judgment, I consider
for the benefit of my
patients, and abstain
from whatever is
deleterious and
mischievous.”
3. LAW
A consistent set of
universal rules that
are widely
published, generally
accepted and
usually enforced
4. TERMS IN THE DEFINITION OF LAW
Consistent
Universal
Published
Accepted
Enforced
5. ETHICS DEFINED
The
term, ethics, comes
from the Greek
ethos (meaning
character and the
Latin mores
(meaning custom)
6. ETHICS CHARACTERISTICS
Ethics involve learning what is right and
wrong and then doing the right thing.
• Most ethical decisions have
• long-term consequences
• multiple alternatives
• mixed outcomes
• uncertain consequences
• personal implications
7. LEGAL VS. ETHICS
To each person an equal share
To each person according to need
To each person according to effort
To each person according to contribution
To each person according to merit
To each person according to free market exchanges
8. WHY ETHICS AND NOT JUST THE LAW
New ethical problems arise
Technology advances
Societal expectations change
Science evolves
Ethical problems not anticipated by existing codes of conduct are
not explicitly stated in laws or rules
