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Health care ethics consultation
"training in virtue"
pp. 25-41
Abstract
In philosophy, intelligence is less important than character, or so Wittgenstein once argued. In this paper, in a similar vein, I suggest that in health care ethics consultation character is of preeminent importance. I suggest that the activity of ethics consultation can be understood as "training in virtue," and what distinguishes the good health care ethics consultant from his/her average colleague are differences in traits of character. The underlying assumption is that one's use of knowledge and abilities are ultimately a function of who one is and how one perceives and confronts situations of moral uncertainty and conflict. In discussing the original case presented by Mark Bliton, I focus on the virtues of wisdom, justice, courage, compassion and humility.
Publication details
Published in:
(1999) Human Studies 22 (1).
Pages: 25-41
Full citation:
Baylis Françoise (1999) „Health care ethics consultation: "training in virtue"“. Human Studies 22 (1), 25–41.