The Importance Of Kant's Deontological Ethics

Doctors have always been crucial to well-being of society. Although they did not have the technology advancements in the past, they always attempted to save the patient’s life in the best and briefest way possible. In order to become a doctor, students are required to study four years at a college or university to acquire a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Afterwards, it is mandatory for students to attend a medical school certified by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education for four years in order to receive a Doctor of Medicine degree. Lastly, doctors must enter a program called the residency program (“Requirements for becoming a physician”). As in any other career field, doctors usually face ethical dilemmas in a daily

Deontology is Deon on Greek, which means duty. Kant’s theory does not focus on the consequences of the action, it only focuses if the action is right or wrong. There are two types of obligations. There are actions that we should not perform towards anyone, for example, we should not lie nor kill. The other obligations are on a more personal level and vary on every person. People have to act accordingly to their obligations regardless of the positive or negative outcome of their actions. According to deontologists, it is wrong to kill, to steal, to lie, and it is right to keep promises and to help people. One should not lie about anything even though that lie could save a lot of lives. In addition, one should not perform a prohibited action even though it could bring uncountable benefits to society (Kant’s Deontological ethics). Deontology is the opposite of consequentialism. Deontology only focuses on an action that is right or wrong without regarding the consequences On the other hand, consequentialism consists on having the most positive outcome on every situation. (“Deontological Ethics”). The patient and doctor relationship should be based around trust and honesty. Every patient should tell the truth when they are asked about if they have changed their lifestyle and how they have progressed with medicine.

The doctor does not have the right to hold information from the patient or their family. In addition, holding information about a diagnostic goes against the principles of being a doctor and looking for the well-being of patients. Patients are the ones that decide how to face the bad news. On the other hand, the doctor should speak with total honesty because it is the patients right to know about their medical status. As every person in this earth, patients have goals and dreams that they want to achieve before their death. A person might want to travel to a certain place or meet their idols before passing away. By knowing of their conditions, patients would hurry up on achieving their goals and dreams in this life. On the contrary, a patient that is not notified of their health won’t hurry up the process as they would think that they could do it in the future (“Honesty in Medicine: Should Doctors tell the