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ethically relevant respects

ida2

Senior Member
Persian - Iran
Hello,

What does “relevant” mean in the context below?

The term justice is used in a general sense to mean fairness—that is, people should get what they deserve. People who are similar in ethically relevant respects should be treated similarly, and people who differ in ethically significant ways should be treated differently.

Source: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas: A Guide for Clinicians by Bernard Lo
It has its normal meaning. It seems to means respects which have a bearing on how people should be treated medically. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses, who have a certain ethical outlook and think blood transfusions are against the will of God, shouldn't be given blood transfusions even if everyone else should.
It has its normal meaning. It seems to means respects which have a bearing on how people should be treated medically. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses, who have a certain ethical outlook and think blood transfusions are against the will of God, shouldn't be given blood transfusions even if everyone else should.
Thank you for your explanation. But, I can't understand it yet. Could you please paraphrase that mentioned sentence?
Here is the sentence again: People who are similar in ethically relevant respects should be treated similarly
People should be treated according to their ethical beliefs, it seems to me. And people who hold different ethical beliefs should be treated differently.
The paragraph is about allocating resources. I think it means that patients should not be discriminated against when treatment and resources are being allocated.
Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

For example, treatment shouldn't be withheld from an older person simply because of their age. A young person and an old person or an obese person and a slimmer person differ in ways that have nothing to do with ethics, and any difference in their treatment should be based on practical considerations: perhaps the very elderly or very obese person would have only a slim chance of surviving surgery.

Doctors should not use ethical considerations to discriminate between them, with arguments such as "Their obesity/cirrhosis of the liver is a self-inflicted condition and they do not deserve costly medical procedures".
The paragraph is about allocating resources. I think it means that patients should not be discriminated against when treatment and resources are being allocated.
Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

For example, treatment shouldn't be withheld from an older person simply because of their age. A young person and an old person or an obese person and a slimmer person differ in ways that have nothing to do with ethics, and any difference in their treatment should be based on practical considerations: perhaps the very elderly or very obese person would have only a slim chance of surviving surgery.

Doctors should not use ethical considerations to discriminate between them, with arguments such as "Their obesity/cirrhosis of the liver is a self-inflicted condition and they do not deserve costly medical procedures".
Thank you for your elaboration.
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