We are the Ethics Police
Book Title
A Companion to Doing Ethics
Files
Download Full Text
Editors
Preti AA, Weidel TA
Description
When speaking colloquially about the role of the clinical ethicist, many ethicists declare, “We are not the ethics police.” However, I argue that if not being the “ethics police” means the ethicist should not give moral recommendations when consulted, then the phrase should be retired because it reflects a confused sense of professional identity. If the ethical watchdogs of the hospital are muzzled in the name of a misguided respect for value pluralism, good medical care will be hindered, and egregiously unethical consequences will result. In this chapter, I argue against this confused colloquialism and instead assert, with important qualifications, that we are the ethics police.
First Page
219
Last Page
232
ISBN
9781394251865
Publication Date
7-2025
Publisher
Wiley
City
New York
Keywords
medical ethics
Disciplines
Bioethics and Medical Ethics
Recommended Citation
Brummett, A.L. We are the ethics police In: Preti AA, Weidel TA, editors. A Companion to doing ethics. New York: Wiley;2025. p.219-232. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394251896.ch16