presents
B Y L ARRY C HONKO , P H .D.
T HE U NIVERSITY OF T EXAS AT A RLINGTON

HIPPOCRATIC OATH IN MEDICINE
“I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.”
E THICS & THE L AW

LAW
A consistent set of universal rules that are widely published, generally accepted and usually enforced
E THICS & THE L AW

TERMS IN THE DEFINITION OF LAW
Consistent
Universal
Published
Accepted
Enforced
E THICS & THE L AW

The term, ethics, comes from the
Greek ethos
(meaning character and the Latin mores
(meaning custom)
E THICS & THE L AW

Ethics involve learning what is right and wrong and then doing the right thing.
• Most ethical decisions have
• long-term consequences
• multiple alternatives
• mixed outcomes
• uncertain consequences
• personal implications
E THICS & THE L AW

To each person an equal share
To each person according to need
To each person according to effort
To each person according to contribution
To each person according to merit
To each person according to free market exchanges
E THICS & THE L AW

WHY ETHICS AND NOT JUST THE LAW
New ethical problems arise
Technology advances
Societal expectations change
Science evolves
Ethical problems not anticipated by existing codes of conduct are not explicitly stated in laws or rules
E THICS & THE L AW