Virtues and Values
Virtues and Values
MHA 622
Healthcare Ethics & Law
Dr. Teresita Gonzalez
August 27, 2012
Virtues and Values Virtues and Values are very important to health care today. Virtues and values are not about what a person wants to be, but rather virtues and values are about who a person really is. Any changes or decisions will always require people or even the patient 's to examine their values and virtues. ( Sheryl, 2010). Virtue can be defined as the difference between good and bad people meaning beneficial quality or moral excellence. Some examples of virtues include being honest or honesty and justice being what is called abstract principles of virtue that are moral. A person is considered to be virtuous if they do what is right and what is good not by habit, but simply by the rules of conduct they choose to follow or set. Another example of virtue is faithfulness which is fidelity or keeping your word and obligations and commitments to other people or patients. (Pogzar, 2012). Values are conduct that is standard. A value is used for judging whether an action is good or bad. Values are standards that can be measured in regards to goodness in a person 's life. Values can also change if we need them to. Values can even sometimes motivate people. Everyone makes judgments based on what they value or has worth. (Pogzar, 2012). Even though value is all around everyone it is often not recognized. In healthcare today, there is total agreement that values are lessoning. Health care is now reflecting societies who are more heterogeneous (different) and even more open to diverse forms of living with different values. When values comes in clear view that is when values are usually detected. (Petrova, Dale & Fulford, (2006). There are some differences between virtues and values, even though these two words are often confused between each other. When a person has a character of being virtuous this is very
MHA 622
Healthcare Ethics & Law
Dr. Teresita Gonzalez
August 27, 2012
Virtues and Values Virtues and Values are very important to health care today. Virtues and values are not about what a person wants to be, but rather virtues and values are about who a person really is. Any changes or decisions will always require people or even the patient 's to examine their values and virtues. ( Sheryl, 2010). Virtue can be defined as the difference between good and bad people meaning beneficial quality or moral excellence. Some examples of virtues include being honest or honesty and justice being what is called abstract principles of virtue that are moral. A person is considered to be virtuous if they do what is right and what is good not by habit, but simply by the rules of conduct they choose to follow or set. Another example of virtue is faithfulness which is fidelity or keeping your word and obligations and commitments to other people or patients. (Pogzar, 2012). Values are conduct that is standard. A value is used for judging whether an action is good or bad. Values are standards that can be measured in regards to goodness in a person 's life. Values can also change if we need them to. Values can even sometimes motivate people. Everyone makes judgments based on what they value or has worth. (Pogzar, 2012). Even though value is all around everyone it is often not recognized. In healthcare today, there is total agreement that values are lessoning. Health care is now reflecting societies who are more heterogeneous (different) and even more open to diverse forms of living with different values. When values comes in clear view that is when values are usually detected. (Petrova, Dale & Fulford, (2006). There are some differences between virtues and values, even though these two words are often confused between each other. When a person has a character of being virtuous this is very
References: Abbott, L. (2012). What is a Value? What is a Virtue? Retrieved from website http://www.odysseyofthefuture.net/pdf_files/Readings/EthicalCharDevWrkshp.pdf Sheryl, (2010). Virtues and Values - Matters of Importance. Retrieved from website http://bestyears.com/blog/?p=257 Pacsi, A., (2008). Case Study: An ethical decision involving a dying patient. Retrieved from website http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Case+study%3a+an+ethical+dilemma+involving+a+dying +patient.-a0184801424. Petrova, M., Dale, J., and Fulford, B., (2006). Values-based practice in primary care: easing the tensions between individuals values, ethical principles and best evidence. British Journal of General Practice, 56(530). Retrieved from website http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1876638/. Pozgar, G. (2012). Legal aspects of health care administration (11th ed.) Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Learning.