As a health care manager in today’s industry, your values and ethics will guide your daily decisions.
Discuss the following questions with the class:
What impact do individual values have on ethical decision-making? Provide an example.
What may change an individual’s values or ethics? Provide an example.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Influence of Individual Values on Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare Management
In the dynamic and complex healthcare industry, the values and ethics of a healthcare manager play a crucial role in guiding daily decisions and actions. Individual values shape the ethical framework within which healthcare managers operate and influence the decision-making process. Understanding how personal values impact ethical decision-making and recognizing factors that can alter individual values is essential for effective leadership in healthcare management.
Impact of Individual Values on Ethical Decision-Making
Individual values serve as the foundation for ethical decision-making in healthcare management. Personal values such as integrity, compassion, honesty, and respect shape the moral compass of healthcare managers and guide their behavior in challenging situations. For example, a healthcare manager who values patient-centered care may prioritize patient well-being and safety when making decisions about resource allocation or treatment options. These values influence the manager’s ethical judgments and actions, ensuring that patient care remains at the forefront of decision-making processes.
Example:
Consider a scenario where a healthcare manager faces a dilemma regarding disclosing medical errors to patients. If the manager values transparency, honesty, and patient autonomy, they may choose to disclose the error to the patient despite potential repercussions. By aligning their decision with their values, the manager upholds ethical principles of truthfulness and patient-centered care, even though the situation may be challenging.
Factors Influencing Changes in Individual Values or Ethics
Several factors can contribute to changes in an individual’s values or ethics over time. External influences, personal experiences, organizational culture, societal norms, and evolving perspectives can all impact an individual’s values and ethical beliefs. These changes may result in shifts in behavior, decision-making processes, and priorities for healthcare managers.
Example:
An individual’s values or ethics may change due to exposure to new information, diverse perspectives, or transformative experiences. For instance, a healthcare manager who previously prioritized cost-efficiency and productivity may undergo a shift in values after witnessing the impact of inadequate staffing on patient outcomes. Through reflection and self-awareness, the manager may recognize the importance of quality care and patient safety, leading to a realignment of values towards prioritizing patient well-being over financial considerations.
In conclusion, individual values serve as the moral compass that guides ethical decision-making in healthcare management. Understanding the influence of personal values on ethical judgments and recognizing factors that can shape or alter values is essential for healthcare managers to navigate complex ethical dilemmas and uphold integrity in their leadership roles. By aligning decisions with core values and fostering a culture of ethical awareness and reflection, healthcare managers can promote a culture of integrity, compassion, and excellence in delivering patient-centered care within the healthcare industry.
