Casuistry as methodology in clinical ethics.

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Philosophy of Medicine
• Clinical Ethics

Background:

• Casuistry is a method of ethical reasoning historically used to resolve moral dilemmas.
• Clinical ethicists require practical reasoning tools to navigate complex healthcare situations.
• Traditional ethical theories may not always provide clear guidance for specific clinical cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present casuistry as a valuable practical reasoning technique for clinical ethicists and ethics consultants.
• To define casuistry and its relationship with rhetorical reasoning in case interpretation.
• To introduce three novel terms—morphology, taxonomy, and kinetics—for analyzing ethical cases.

Main Methods:

• Defining casuistry and its connection to rhetorical reasoning.
• Introducing and explaining three analytical terms: morphology, taxonomy, and kinetics.
• Illustrating how these terms aid in case interpretation and moral judgment.

Main Results:

• Morphology identifies the invariant structure and argument forms (topics) within a case.
• Taxonomy positions a case within a series of similar cases for comparative moral judgment.
• Kinetics describes how cases can influence the moral status of other cases over time.

Conclusions:

• Casuistry, through morphology, taxonomy, and kinetics, provides a robust framework for practical ethical reasoning in clinical settings.
• Moral judgment in casuistry relies on the interplay of maxims, circumstances, topics, and case comparisons.
• This method supports nuanced ethical decision-making beyond the strict application of abstract principles.