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How to approach ethical issues - a brief guide

Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Senior Research Fellow in Ethics in Medicine, University of Bristol; Chairman RCOG Ethics Committee, Centre for Ethics in Medicine, 73 St Michael's Hill, Bristol BS2 8BH, UK. email: g.m.stirrat{at}bristol.ac.uk

The practice of clinical medicine cannot be isolated from ethical judgements. These judgements must take full account of all the circumstances of the case and be based on sound principles. Decisions must be consistent, free from contradiction and clinically relevant. Some of the principles are outlined here and a guide is provided to facilitate the translation of ethical analysis into moral action. The purpose of this brief outline is to assist in the development of consistent, critical and reflective attitudes to ethical decision making. My aim is to make you think and the `further reading' is designed to assist in this.

Keywords Keywords / ethics / ethical issues / Four Principle Approach / moral theory