We strongly advise you read the ‘Ask an Assessment Task Question’ discussion forum. If you don’t you
may not fully understand the requirements of this task.Internally Assure the Quality of Assessment
In the essay you must offer a “balanced view” of the topic, which means that you must include
alternative ethical perspectives that may not match your ultimate ethical stance but require
consideration. You are not being asked to write an unsubstantiated opinion piece but are developing a
logical evidenced ethical position.
1. Start with a clear introduction that tells the reader what to expect. A good introduction contains:
• Some brief background information on the ethical importance of the topic.
• A clear thesis-statement, where you tell the reader briefly where your ultimate ethical stance
on the issue. Frame this in a way which ‘advises the reader where your argument is going to
end up’ – for example “A range of ethical arguments will be presented to support the
assertion that…..” (Note: You should not even determine your ethical stance (intro &
conclusion) until you have written the body of your essay. Don’t go in with pre-conceived
assumptions).
2. The body of your essay:
• This is where you explore in detail how each of the bioethical principles relates to the topic
of your essay. This may ultimately support your central argument, or it may be presenting
alternate/opposing views (all should be included).
i. Autonomy: Is the patient’s autonomy being respected or not? Can it be respected? Are
there challenges in supporting this ethical principle?
ii. Beneficence: Is the intention to achieve the best possible outcome for the patient? Are
there challenges in supporting this ethical principle?
iii. Non-Maleficence: Is un-necessary harm to the patient being avoided? Is it necessary to
‘harm’ the patient? Are there challenges in supporting this ethical principle?
iv. Justice: Are patients receiving equitable care regarding their needs and the available
resources? Are there valid reasons for treating certain patients inequitably?
• In the body of the essay, you also need to include discussion of other ethical concepts such
as human dignity, veracity, codes of ethics, and professional codes of conduct. Ideally, these
are integrated through the discussion.
• At some point you will have to justify the values judgment that you make in determining
what takes ethical precedence, and why you may have to compromise on any of the four
bioethical principles. This is where the other ethical theories become useful.
i. Utilitarian thinking: Are you aiming for the best possible outcome for the greatest
good/benefits for the greatest number? Can you demonstrate ethically that it is, indeed,
a “good” outcome?
ii. Deontological thinking: Is there a duty or rule that necessitates or forbids a particular
type of action? Can you explain why this duty exists?
iii. Virtue-Ethics thinking: Does the proposed action conform to what we might expect of
the moral character virtues of health-care professionals?
iv. Ethics-of-Care thinking: Is the patient being consulted with a benevolent attitude, and is
there sufficient dialogue with the patient to work out what is morally best in his or her
specific situation? Is there potential for conflict with any general rules of moral conduct?
v. Natural Law: Are there applicable universal and objective moral norms to which each
person, when acting reasonably and responsibly, should respond?
3. Your conclusion should summarise and round-off your discussion on the topic. You should:
• Concisely summarise how your ideas collectively support your ethical stance
• State your ethical stance. Frame this in stronger language than in the introduction – for
example “…as demonstrated in the ethical arguments presented, it is/is not….”.
• offer some brief concluding remarks on the topic.