The Professional Ethics Toolkit

The Professional Ethics Toolkit is an engaging and accessible guide to the study of moral issues in professional life through the analysis of ethical dilemmas faced by people working in medicine, law, social work, business, and other industries where conflicting interests and ideas complicate professional practice and decision-making. Written by a seasoned ethicist and professional consultant, the volume uses philosophical ideas, theories, and principles to develop and articulate a definitive methodology for ethical decision-making in professional environments. Meyers offers the benefit of his expertise with clear and practical advice at every turn, guiding readers through numerous real-world examples and case studies to illustrate key concepts including role-engendered duties, conflicts of interest, competency, and the principles that underpin and define professionalism itself. Following the format of The Philosopher’s Toolkit , The Professional Ethics Toolkit is an essential companion to the study of professional ethics for use in both the classroom and the working world, encouraging students and general readers alike to think critically and engage intelligently with ethics in their professional lives. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Opening Thoughts Being and Acting Professional Definition and Listing Cases Health-care professionals and the conscience clause Defending the indefensible Getting by with cheaper materials Note References Part I Theory, Concepts, and Ethics Reasoning Chapter 1 Historical Overview and Definitional Questions 1.1 Some History 1.1.1 The rising role of science 1.1.2 Impact of the European Enlightenment 1.1.3 Organizing to differentiate 1.1.4 Formalizing the standards 1.1.5 Establishing trust 1.1.6 Monopolies, money, and power 1.2 Defining “Professional” 1.2.1 Essential features 1.2.2 Common features 1.2.3 Role-based duties 1.3 A Working List 1.4 Types of Professional–Client Relationships 1.4.1 Agency 1.4.2 Paternalistic (or parentalistic) 1.4.3 Contractual 1.4.4 Affinity 1.4.5 Fiduciary Notes References Chapter 2 A Model of Ethics Reasoning 2.1 Relativism, Absolutism, and Contextualism 2.2 Deontology 2.2.1 Immanuel Kant 2.3 Utilitarianism 2.3.1 John Stuart Mill 2.4 Context, Context, Context 2.5 Ross and Pluralistic Deontology 2.6 A Model of Ethics Reasoning 2.6.1 A method and steps 2.7 Moral Principles 2.8 Case: Cutting Corners Notes References Part II Concepts, Principles, and Norms within Professional Environments Chapter 3 Autonomy and Respect for Persons 3.1 Autonomy in the World 3.1.1 Kant and moral agency 3.1.2 Mill and developed selfhood 3.1.3 Variable autonomy, life plans, and identity 3.1.4 Contributing and detracting factors 3.2 The Hard Work of Being Autonomous 3.2.1 Additional examples 3.3 Case: Which Autonomous Voice? Notes References Chapter 4 Beneficence and Non-Maleficence 4.1 Beneficence 4.1.1 Finding balance in the professions 4.1.2 Paternalistic beneficence? 4.2 Non-Maleficence 4.2.1 Harm and incompetence 4.3 Cases 4.3.1 Mandatory vaccinations? 4.3.2 How much should you give? Notes References Chapter 5 Competency 5.1 Systematizing Confidence 5.2 Case: Sanctioning a Colleague Note Chapter 6 Confidentiality and Privacy 6.1 Privacy 6.2 Privacy as a Moral Root of Confidentiality 6.2.1 Intimacy and confidentiality 6.2.2 Deontological and utilitarian foundations 6.3 Practical Considerations 6.3.1 Weighing confidentiality against other principles 6.4 Cases 6.4.1 Balancing principles: Privacy, beneficence, non-maleficence, honesty, and fidelity 6.4.2 Tell the family? Notes References Chapter 7 Conflict of interest 7.1 Definition 7.1.1 Situational conflict of interest 7.1.2 Conflict of interest and individual choices 7.1.3 Psychology and character 7.2 Types of Conflicting Inducements 7.2.1 Material inducements 7.2.2 Perceived conflict of interest 7.2.3 Conflicts of obligation and bias 7.3 Structural Conflict of Interest 7.3.1 Universally present 7.3.2 Roles and conflict of interest 7.3.3 Bias and conflict of interest 7.3.4 Managing structural conflict of interest 7.4 Cases 7.4.1 Accepting a gift 7.4.2 What now? 7.4.3 Treating everyone equally Notes References Chapter 8 Fidelity, Honesty, and Role‐Based Duties 8.1 Promises 8.1.1 Moral foundations 8.2 Honesty 8.2.1 Professionals’ duty to be informed 8.2.2 Commission versus omission 8.2.3 Honesty and wisdom 8.2.4 Balancing duties 8.2.5 Honesty and roles 8.3 Cases 8.3.1 Committed to the company? 8.3.2 A contract is a contract 8.3.3 The lying ethicist Notes References Chapter 9 Formal Justice, Bias, and Allocation of Resources 9.1 Arbitrary Features 9.2 The Complexity of Justice 9.3 Formal Justice 9.3.1 Justice and objectivity 9.3.2 Negative impacts 9.3.3 Circumstantial responses 9.4 Bias 9.4.1 Managing bias 9.5 Distributive Justice 9.5.1 What is fair? 9.5.2 Rawls’s theory 9.6 Cases 9.6.1 Equal treatment for cheaters? 9.6.2 Bias and just representation 9.6.3 A just allocation of health‐care resources Notes References Epilogue: Democratization and the Changing of Professions Some History Democratization Shifting power and inclusivity Commercialization Transforming Society and the Professions Note References Index EULA Intro -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Opening Thoughts -- Being and Acting Professional -- Definition and Listing -- Cases -- Health-care professionals and the conscience clause -- Defending the indefensible -- Getting by with cheaper materials -- Note -- References -- Part I Theory, Concepts, and Ethics Reasoning -- Chapter 1 Historical Overview and Definitional Questions -- 1.1 Some History -- 1.1.1 The rising role of science -- 1.1.2 Impact of the European Enlightenment -- 1.1.3 Organizing to differentiate -- 1.1.4 Formalizing the standards -- 1.1.5 Establishing trust -- 1.1.6 Monopolies, money, and power -- 1.2 Defining "Professional"--1.2.1 Essential features -- 1.2.2 Common features -- 1.2.3 Role-based duties -- 1.3 A Working List -- 1.4 Types of Professional-Client Relationships -- 1.4.1 Agency -- 1.4.2 Paternalistic (or parentalistic) -- 1.4.3 Contractual -- 1.4.4 Affinity -- 1.4.5 Fiduciary -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 2 A Model of Ethics Reasoning -- 2.1 Relativism, Absolutism, and Contextualism -- 2.2 Deontology -- 2.2.1 Immanuel Kant -- 2.3 Utilitarianism -- 2.3.1 John Stuart Mill -- 2.4 Context, Context, Context -- 2.5 Ross and Pluralistic Deontology -- 2.6 A Model of Ethics Reasoning -- 2.6.1 A method and steps -- 2.7 Moral Principles -- 2.8 Case: Cutting Corners -- Notes -- References -- Part II Concepts, Principles, and Norms within Professional Environments -- Chapter 3 Autonomy and Respect for Persons -- 3.1 Autonomy in the World -- 3.1.1 Kant and moral agency -- 3.1.2 Mill and developed selfhood -- 3.1.3 Variable autonomy, life plans, and identity -- 3.1.4 Contributing and detracting factors -- 3.2 The Hard Work of Being Autonomous -- 3.2.1 Additional examples -- 3.3 Case: Which Autonomous Voice? -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 4 Beneficence and Non-Maleficence The Professional Ethics Toolkit is an engaging and accessible guide to the study of moral issues in professional life. It analyzes and provides tools for making sense of ethical dilemmas faced by people working in medicine, law, social work, business, and other professions where conflicting interests and ideas complicate professional practice and decision-making. Written by a seasoned ethicist and professional consultant, the volume uses philosophical ideas, theories, and principles to develop and articulate a definitive methodology for ethical decision-making in professional environments. Meyers offers the benefit of his expertise with clear and practical advice at every turn. He guides readers first through the normative foundations that make professions distinct from other kinds of work activities, and later, through numerous real-world examples and case studies to illustrate key ethical concepts, including role-engendered duties, conflicts of interest, and competency. Following the format of The Philosopher's Toolkit, The Professional Ethics Toolkit is an essential companion to the study of professional ethics for use in both the classroom and the working world, encouraging students, working professionals, and general readers alike to think critically and engage intelligently with ethics in their professional lives--back cover Professionals in the business world face difficult decisions every day. From the large to the small, business decisions can have a significant impact on the lives of colleagues, shareholders, and customers. This is Business Ethics is a practical and useful guide to the philosophy of business ethics, full of clear examples drawn from major case studies that demonstrate how moral considerations come to bear on business decisions. Perfect for students of business ethics and for business professionals, This is Business Ethics is an instructive resource for navigating common business problems.

• Provides a definitive methodology for ethical decision-making in professional environments.
• Uses real-world examples and case studies to demonstrate and explain theoretical principles taken from critical ethical ideologies.
• Authored by an ethicist and professional consultant with years of practical experience in teaching workplace ethics for varied professions.
• Provides clear and concise coverage of the essential subjects in professional ethics, including role-engendered duties, conflicts of interest, competency, and the principles that underpin and define professionalism itself.

"Professionals in the business world face difficult decisions every day. From the large to the small, business decisions can have a significant impact on the lives of colleagues, shareholders, and customers. This is Business Ethics is a practical and useful guide to the philosophy of business ethics, full of clear examples drawn from major case studies that demonstrate how moral considerations come to bear on business decisions. Perfect for students of business ethics and for business professionals, This is Business Ethics is an instructive resource for navigating common business problems. Provides a definitive methodology for ethical decision-making in professional environments. Uses real-world examples and case studies to demonstrate and explain theoretical principles taken from critical ethical ideologies. Authored by an ethicist and professional consultant with years of practical experience in teaching workplace ethics for varied professions. Provides clear and concise coverage of the essential subjects in professional ethics, including role-engendered duties, conflicts of interest, competency, and the principles that underpin and define professionalism itself." --publisher Following the format of The Philosopher's Toolkit, The Professional Ethics Toolkit is an essential companion to the study of professional ethics for use in both the classroom and the working world, encouraging students, working professionals, and general readers alike to think critically and engage intelligently with ethics in their professional lives --Book Jacket