Learning Objective #1: Understand importance of knowledge concerning theoretical study of health care ethic

Learning Objective #2: Find a fruitful and meaningful perspective to theory of health care ethic

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My doctoral thesis is in the domain of analytical research of health care ethics and it is a theoretical and literature-based study on the nature of that. Traditionally, health care ethics has been based on the theories of patriarchal Western moral philosophy and, in particular, on Aristotle's virtue ethics, Mill's utilitarianism and Kant's duty ethics. In addition of these three theories, health care ethics has been studied from perspective. From a feminist perspective, the traditional theories of health care ethics are too hypothetical and abstract and far removed from everyday life. Most significant feminist theory in health care ethics is Carol Gilligan's “ethic of care”. The ethic of care places the emphasis on the context, interaction between people and single subject. As a consequence of this emphasis, special importance in ethical conduct is attached to care, responsibility and empathy.

The purpose of my study is to analyze the nature of health care ethics with the help of ecofeminist ethic. Ekofeminism is on the crossing of three sciences, feminism, philosophy and ecology. Nature of ecofeminist ethical theories is heterogeneous. Ecofeminist ethics entails several ontological, value theoretical, epistemological, and normative standpoints. Common to every theoretical standpoint is to suggest that there are common features in the control and exploitation of women and nature in male-dominated cultures. Understanding these connections is necessary to stop this exploitation. Davies (1988) has defined four basic principles which are common to most of ecofeminist theories. These principles emphasize holism, interdependence, equality and process. In my study I will apply these concepts to health care ethics.

The analysis of health care ethics with the help of ecofeminist ethics enables the critical study of the philosophical basis of theories on heath care ethics. Such a study of health care ethics plays an important role in its research and development.