Abstract
Consequentialism is an ethics doctrine that holds that right and wrong of any action entirely dependent on the value of the consequences compared to all other actions. This doctrine is controversial, and other doctrines based on duty or virtue have been put forward. Regardless of the doctrine, the calculation of consequences forms an integral part of any ethics analyses.
Moral consequences are expressed in terms of moral values, and an appreciation of values including differences between values and potential incommensurability are central for teaching and understanding professional ethics. Thereby, differentiation of medical issues and value-related issues is fundamental in medical decision-making. The former is managed within the paradigm of medical ethics.
The ethics is essential, since any professional medical practice serves society according to a virtual contract, where professionals are given trust and reward to exert their expertise along routines that entail expert skill, self-regulation, and professional ethics.
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Mathiesen, T. (2022). Utilitarianism and Consequentialism in Learning. In: Ammar, A. (eds) Learning and Career Development in Neurosurgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-02078-0_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-02078-0_10
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