Moral judgment of physicians is insufficient as a framework for medical ethics

Gonzalo Navarrete R

doi:10.4067/s0034-98872020000500684

Abstract

Physicians values are largely supported by a socio-cultural moral basis, also known as "classical utilitarianism". Technological advances and social questions to physicians show their paucity of an ethical conceptualization in medicine. A new way of approaching ethical conflicts in medicine should be constructed. Training should promote ethical reflection about these conflicts and about the actions of physicians. Ontogenetic and phylogenetic research on human nature, and the advances in moral psychology, could allow us to understand the construction of our judgment of values. An introspective emotional and rational effort to understand "how we are" and from there, to "how we act" lacks among physicians. This issue is even more complex in a political-social model which does not stimulate this type of analysis. The university space is a privileged opportunity to educate. The student must be envisioned as a human being whose professional acts should consider the needs of our society, aiming at a new ethical conceptualization in medicine.

Highlights

Moral judgment of physicians is insufficient as a framework for medical ethics Physicians values are largely supported by a socio-cultural moral basis, known as “classical utilitarianism”
Technological advances and social questions to physicians show their paucity of an ethical conceptualization in medicine
Ontogenetic and phylogenetic research on human nature, and the advances in moral psychology, could allow us to understand the construction of our judgment of values

Summary

Introduction

Moral judgment of physicians is insufficient as a framework for medical ethics Physicians values are largely supported by a socio-cultural moral basis, known as “classical utilitarianism”. Consideramos fundamental incluir el debate ético actual en medicina; el concepto de “naturaleza humana” desde una visión filosófica, biológica y psicológica para la construcción valórica; la relevancia de los procesos formativos en medicina para la conceptualización ética; y los avances en psicología moral, como base de una teoría para la conceptualización de la ética profesional.

Results

Conclusion