The process of ethical decision making

This chapter discusses a framework for and process of ethical decision making in the context of the discipline, theories, and principles of ethics. Daily decision making within the Hospital Ethics Committee is considered and some of the emerging ethical issues in anaesthesia are discussed.

Key words: beneficence, bioethics, biomedical ethics, codes of ethics, consequentialism, deontological ethics, ethics, ethical analysis, ethics committees, ethics consultation, ethical theory, feminist ethics, health care ethics, hospital ethics committee, medical ethics, morals, natural law, normative ethics, personal autonomy, principle-based ethics, principlism, religious ethics, situational ethics, social justice, social responsibility, teleological ethics, utilitarianism, virtues