The Theoretical Foundations of the Ethics of Medical Virtues: a Study of the First Part of the Book The Virtues in Medical Practice by E. Pellegrino and D. Thomasma
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53439/stdfyt45.23.2020.45-86Keywords:
virtue theory, principalism, character, principles, duties, moral community, purposes of the physician-patient relationship, beneficence and autonomyAbstract
On the occasion of the release of the Spanish edition (2019) of the work called “The virtues in medical practice” (1993) by Pellegrino and Thomasma, a detailed and critical analysis of the theoretical part that heads the work is provided, part in which the goal of the work is specifi ed, as well as the contents and the chapters sequence. This study is preceded by three converging approaches concerning the status of reflection on medical ethics when the first edition was released, the place of this part within the structure of the whole of E. Pellegrino’s works, this work’s main author, and the location of this part within the structure of the entire book. For Pellegrino it is essential to establish from the beginning that a virtuous life is the main resource that a physician has to contribute to the healing of their patient. For this reason, the fi rst chapter is devoted to the concept of virtue from a historical perspective. The next chapter analyzes the connection between virtues, principles and duties, responding to the challenge of showing how the virtue theory can be combined with principlism. The theme of the medicine as a moral community, over which the third chapter deals, prevails form the moment that the virtues, principles and duties of the physicians require adequate institutional support so that their actions are guided without failing to the proper purposes of the profession. The fourth chapter studies these aims showing that they are not reduced to the cure of the patient, but rather they look at their integral well-being. Before
the vulnerability of the patient, the first response of the medical professional and of the entire community to which they belong, will be the benefi cence in trust.
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