A good knowledge of ethical frameworks is essential for success in not only your medical school interviews but for your career as a healthcare professional. They will form the basis of many of your patient interactions and clinical decisions.
Frameworks
Consequentialism
An action's morality is dependent purely on the consequence
As long as the action has an overall benefit, the morality of any other aspect of the action does not matter
Example - limited drug supply with one severely sick patient or five less sick patients
Utilitarianism
Best action is the one that provides the most good
The best decision is the one that benefits the most people
Example - see the previous consequentialism example
Deontology
'Duty-based'
Follow rules
Contrast
Example
Virtue ethics
An action's morality is dependent on the motivations behind their actions
Aim to be good and actions will automatically be moral
Compassion, discernment, trustworthiness, integrity, conscientiousness
Principalism
Four pillars
Universal
Most moral
Importance?
Features of a strong argument
Concise
Balanced
Factual
Structure
TAM's Top Tips
Spend time looking over these - complex but will score highly in interview
Read around the 'hot' ethical topics - you can use our website www.TheAspiringMedics.co.uk. Try and apply the frameworks to these
Stay calm and concise - ethical questions are difficult but you will be well-equipped to answer them with these frameworks. Stay calm, follow these frameworks and you will score highly