Introducing the ethical cycle model for resolving ethical conflicts in medical practice

Abstract

Ethical dilemmas are among the most important ethical problems in medicine. With the advent of COVID-19, the moral problems of physicians have taken on new dimensions as the specific features of this disease pose additional ethical challenges that require particular solutions. One common way to solve ethical dilemmas is to use ethical decision making models. One of the most recent models in ethics of technology is the “ethical cycle” developed by Ibo van de Poel. By describing and comparing several models, this paper examines the application of the ethical cycle to physicians' ethical problems and medical ethics. This model can help solve complex problems in consultations and ethics committee meetings because it is comprehensive and covers various aspects of the discussion. In this model, first the ethical problem is formulated and analyzed and then the potential options for action are proposed. Subsequently, by referring to ethical theories and professional codes of conduct in the medical field, as well as applying the method of "reflective equilibrium," an ethical decision is reached. This decision is specific to each case and may not necessarily be the best solution for other individuals or situations.