Patterns of practice and paediatric care

Area of Science:

• Clinical Ethics
• Philosophy of Practice
• Bioethics

Background:

• The concept of "patterns of practice" is introduced as a framework for understanding ethical decision-making in healthcare.
• Ethical considerations are inherent in all clinical actions, even if not explicitly recognized.
• The paper draws upon the philosophy of practice, highlighting themes of coherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usefulness of "patterns of practice" as a concept in clinical ethics.
• To explore the internal and external coherence of these patterns.
• To demonstrate the relevance of patterns of practice to pediatric clinical ethics.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of "patterns of practice" and its components (internal and external coherence).
• Exploration of connections to casuistry, virtue ethics, and medieval concepts (conscientia, synderesis).
• Application of the concept to fictional case vignettes in pediatric practice.

Main Results:

• Patterns of practice, characterized by internal (casuistry-like) and external (virtue ethics-like) coherence, are proposed as a useful ethical framework.
• The concept of patterns of practice is shown to be relevant to pediatric practice.
• These patterns serve both explanatory and determinative functions in ethical decision-making.

Conclusions:

• The notion of patterns of practice offers a valuable lens for analyzing and guiding ethical conduct in clinical settings, particularly in pediatrics.
• Internal and external coherence are crucial aspects of ethical patterns of practice.
• This framework aids in understanding and determining ethical decisions in everyday clinical scenarios.