ETHIC 2
Uploaded by
Anil GillETHIC 2
Uploaded by
Anil Gill1.
Human Rights
Objective: Understand the concept of human rights, its importance in society, and its
relationship with ethics in healthcare and beyond.
Expanded Content:
Definition of Human Rights: Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms
that all individuals are entitled to, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender,
religion, or other status. These rights are often enshrined in international law,
such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Key Principles of Human Rights:
o Universality: Human rights apply to all people, everywhere, without
discrimination.
o Inalienability: Human rights cannot be taken away, except in specific
situations and according to due process.
o Equality and Non-discrimination: All individuals are entitled to the
same human rights, without distinction or exclusion.
o Indivisibility: All human rights—civil, political, economic, social, and
cultural—are equally important and cannot be treated in isolation.
Human Rights in Healthcare: Every person has the right to access healthcare
services, receive informed care, and live in an environment free from
discrimination. Ethical issues often arise when healthcare systems or
professionals fail to uphold human rights.
Assignment Questions:
1. What are human rights, and why are they considered fundamental to
society?
2. Discuss how human rights are relevant in healthcare settings.
3. Explain the relationship between healthcare ethics and human rights with an
example.
2. Positive Rights
Objective: Explore the concept of positive rights, how they differ from negative
rights, and their ethical implications.
Expanded Content:
Definition of Positive Rights: Positive rights are rights that require others
(usually the government or society) to provide certain services or benefits to
individuals. These rights often involve access to resources or services.
Examples of Positive Rights:
o Right to education: The state is obligated to provide education to
individuals.
o Right to healthcare: The state or society may be obligated to ensure
access to medical care for all individuals.
o Right to a minimum standard of living: Includes rights to food,
housing, and basic economic security.
Ethical Implications: Positive rights often raise debates about the roles and
responsibilities of the state, the limits of government intervention, and the
redistribution of resources.
Assignment Questions:
1. Define positive rights and provide examples of positive rights in society.
2. What ethical challenges arise from the concept of positive rights in
healthcare?
3. Compare positive rights with negative rights and discuss their implications for
healthcare policy.
3. Negative Rights
Objective: Understand the concept of negative rights, how they differ from positive
rights, and their importance in ethical decision-making.
Expanded Content:
Definition of Negative Rights: Negative rights are rights that require others
(typically the government or society) to refrain from interfering with an
individual’s actions or freedoms. In other words, negative rights require non-
interference rather than the provision of services.
Examples of Negative Rights:
o Right to freedom of speech: No one (including the state) has the right
to suppress an individual’s expression.
o Right to privacy: Individuals have the right to live without
unnecessary surveillance or intrusion by others.
o Right to liberty: No one has the right to imprison or restrain a person
without due process.
Ethical Implications: Negative rights often raise questions about balancing
individual freedoms with social order, especially when rights conflict (e.g.,
individual freedom vs. public safety).
Assignment Questions:
1. Define negative rights and provide examples of negative rights in society.
2. How do negative rights affect healthcare professionals in their practice,
especially in terms of patient autonomy?
3. Discuss the ethical challenges of balancing negative rights with other societal
interests (e.g., freedom vs. public health).
4. Systemic Rights
Objective: Explore the concept of systemic rights, which are rights that exist within
the framework of societal structures and institutions.
Expanded Content:
Definition of Systemic Rights: Systemic rights refer to the rights that emerge
from societal systems or structures, such as the economy, legal systems, and
political institutions. These rights may include the right to a fair trial, the right
to work, or the right to non-discrimination in various aspects of life
(education, employment, etc.).
Examples of Systemic Rights:
o Economic rights: The right to access employment, fair wages, and safe
working conditions.
o Political rights: The right to vote, run for office, and participate in the
political process.
o Social rights: The right to social services, such as welfare, social
security, and healthcare.
Ethical Implications: Systemic rights often intersect with positive rights
because they require institutional changes or policies to be effectively
implemented. The discussion often revolves around social justice, equity, and
the role of the state in ensuring these rights.
Assignment Questions:
1. Define systemic rights and explain their importance in a just society.
2. How do systemic rights relate to healthcare and public health systems?
3. Discuss the ethical implications of systemic rights in the context of social
justice and equality.
5. Concept of Utilitarianism
Objective: Introduce and discuss the concept of utilitarianism, focusing on its ethical
principles and applications in healthcare and decision-making.
Expanded Content:
Definition of Utilitarianism: Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that proposes
the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or utility. The
ethical principle is often summarized as “the greatest good for the greatest
number.”
Key Concepts of Utilitarianism:
o Consequentialism: The morality of an action is determined by its
outcomes or consequences.
o Hedonism: The belief that pleasure or happiness is the ultimate good.
o Impartiality: Every individual’s happiness is considered equal.
Utilitarianism in Healthcare:
o In healthcare, utilitarianism is often applied in decisions about
resource allocation (e.g., organ transplants, emergency care), where
the aim is to maximize health benefits across the population.
o The ethical challenge is balancing individual rights with the greater
good, particularly in situations of scarcity.
Assignment Questions:
1. Define utilitarianism and explain its central principle of maximizing happiness.
2. How is utilitarianism applied in healthcare decision-making, and what are its
advantages and challenges?
3. Discuss an ethical dilemma where utilitarianism might conflict with individual
rights.
