Beyond principles: virtue ethics in hospice and palliative care.
Living ethically in the face of death is a major challenge for the ill person, the family, and the hospice staff. Beyond the recognized need for ethical decision-making regarding medical principles, there are decisions about character for all involved: "What kind of person will I be?" "What kind of family will we be?" What kind of caregiver will I be?" "What kind of community will we be? This article is a discussion of virtues that are appropriate in hospice staff and volunteers: compassion/empathy, faithfulness, justice/advocacy and practical wisdom. The author calls for a wider sharing of their knowledge and experience.
Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Marie J
MJ
Giblin
D004645:Empathy; D006738:Hospices; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D028722:Virtues